ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Labour Party: Donors

Bob Neill: To ask the hon. Member for South-West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the Electoral Commission's press release of 7 May 2009, on the Crown Prosecution Service decision on Labour Party donations, whether the Electoral Commission made an assessment of the merits of initiating its own investigation into the donations after the Crown Prosecution Service decision.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that following the Crown Prosecution Service decision in May 2009, the Commission considered what, if any, further action might be appropriate. The Commission concluded that in view of the investigation conducted by the police and the CPS decision, further investigation into the same matters would not be in the public interest.

Political Parties: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the hon. Member for South-West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 6W, on political parties: finance, from which  (a) legal firms,  (b) Queen's counsel and  (c) other sources the Electoral Commission sought advice in connection with its investigation into Mr. Michael Brown and Fifth Avenue Partners; how much was paid for such advice in each case; and what the total cost was to the Electoral Commission of the investigation.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that, in addition to legal advice from its in-house legal counsel, it also obtained legal advice from Queen's counsel, Michael Beloff QC; and from junior barristers, Jane Collier, Tom Hickman and Michael Nield. Payments to Queen's counsel amounted to £33,625 and payments to junior counsel amounted to £26,650.
	The Electoral Commission further informs me that it does not record the precise direct and indirect costs associated with any particular case but, now that the investigation is closed, can estimate that the staff and incidental costs incurred, including the above legal costs, amounted to approximately £170,000.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Charlie Whelan

Nick Hurd: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether Mr. Charlie Whelan holds a House of Commons security pass.

Nick Harvey: Mr. Charles Whelan holds a parliamentary photo-identity pass.

Members: Allowances

Stewart Jackson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1006W, on Members: expenses, how much the  (a) budget and  (b) approved purchase order is for the use of Detica to undertake investigations in 2009-10; and what it was in 2008-09.

Nick Harvey: An invoice for £15,640, inclusive of VAT, has now been received in line with the original budgetary provision. This was for a piece of work in support of the internal inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of information about Members' allowances. No payment for such work was made in 2008-09.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the oral answer of 11 March 2010,  Official Report, column 428, on the day nursery, what items of expenditure referred to as having being spent on Bellamy's Bar will be reused in the new scheme; and what estimate has been made of the monetary value of those items.

Nick Harvey: Of the £480,000 spent on the refurbishment of Bellamy's Bar, Bellamy's Club Room, and the Astor Suite (including fees and furnishings) it is estimated that approximately £168,000 of the work would be of continuing benefit in the new child care facility. Items include carpets, carpentry and joinery, plasterwork, decorations, mechanical and electrical engineering. In addition, efforts will be made to reuse the furniture elsewhere on the parliamentary estate, which was provided at a cost of £66,000.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) of 11 March 2010,  Official Report, column 423, on the day nursery, when consultation with experts and providers began; when he expects that consultation to finish; and what consultation is being undertaken with those who will be relocated from 1 Parliament street.

Nick Harvey: Consultation with child care experts has been continuous since November 2009, and is expected to continue throughout the duration of the project. Consultation with providers took place to help inform the options paper presented to the Commission in December, but is now in abeyance until completion of the procurement process. Management are consulting with Trade Unions and regularly briefing those staff who are to be relocated from 1 Parliament street.

WALES

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Peter Hain: Nil.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: My Department has not incurred any expenditure of this nature.

Departmental Surveys

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his Department.

Peter Hain: I will arrange for the results from the Civil Service People Survey for the Wales Office to be placed in the Library of each House.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation "if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997" could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has not received any such questions.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel of each sex were injured in Afghanistan  (a) between the deployment of special forces in 2001 and the deployment of the armed forces and  (b) since the deployment of the armed forces in that country.

Bob Ainsworth: holding 22 March answer 2010
	Between October 2001 and February 2010, 1,116 service personnel were injured in action in Afghanistan, of which six were female.
	This figure does not include personnel treated by coalition medical facilities before the establishment of the Afghan Field Hospital in March 2006. It is not possible to distinguish on the basis of gender between personnel injured between April and October 2006.
	Between April 2006 and February 2010, 2,217 service personnel with non-battle injuries or diseases were admitted to a field hospital in Afghanistan, of which 116 were female.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he takes to ensure the welfare of animals used in scientific procedures as a result of a decision by his Department.

Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence has always taken the issue of animal health and welfare seriously and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) complies fully with all of the UK legislative requirements.
	All Dstl staff who wish to work with animals are required to attend internal Dstl courses prior to their application for a personal licence. Following the successful completion of the required internal and legislative training, staff continue to undertake on the job training; individual training records are maintained to ensure required competence for procedures.
	In order to maintain high welfare standards and share best practice Dstl staff are encouraged to visit other facilities and attend appropriate conferences e.g. meetings of the Institute of Animal Technologists, the Laboratory Animal Science Association and the Laboratory Animal Veterinary Association.
	Information gathered is then shared within Dstl via dedicated internal forums.

Armed Forces: Equipment

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on funding standard operational requirements for kit and equipment for the armed forces.

Quentin Davies: The core Equipment Programme, funded from the Defence budget, delivers the capabilities our armed forces need now and in the future against a range of contingencies and threats. Priorities are reviewed regularly as part of the Ministry of Defence's annual planning round. In addition, Urgent Operational Requirements respond to urgent requirements specific to particular operational theatres and are funded by the Treasury Reserve.

Armed Forces: Officers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers at each rank at or above the rank of colonel there were in the British Army, including the Territorial Army and Reserve, in  (a) 1990,  (b) 1997,  (c) 2005 and  (d) the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 23 March 2010
	The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  As at April each year  General  Lieutenant General  Major General  Brigadier  Colonel  Total 
			  Regular officers   
			 1990 10 9 65 236 657 977 
			 1997 (1)6 10 43 172 478 709 
			 2005 7 11 46 179 584 827 
			 2009 5 17 43 190 597 852 
			
			  Territorial Army (TA) officers   
			 1997 - - - 2 70 72 
			 2005 - - - 4 87 91 
			 (1) Includes one Field Marshal  Notes: 1. "-" denotes zero. 2. April 2009 figures for Regular Officers are provisional because of Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system data validation issues. 
		
	
	In addition, in April 2005 there were three full-time Reserve service colonels, and in April 2009 there were four full-time Reserve service colonels and one brigadier. The 2009 figure is also provisional.
	Data on the Territorial Army are not held before January 1993. After April 2007 Territorial Army officer and soldier breakdowns are not included due to JPA data validation issues.
	The changes of Army officers numbers is in line with the Army's operational commitments over this period, therefore since 1997 there has been a significant increase in the number of senior officers being deployed on operations. Modern conflict has seen UK Armed Forces deploying an increased number of senior officers in support of NATO and other coalitions far more than in the recent past; moreover, there has also been the requirement for senior officer support for host nations in a variety of advisory roles. Appropriate military representation is required at many levels to command operations, provide staff support in coalition headquarters, and effect coordination. Our operational commitments have demanded increased number of officers at the rank of colonel and above to deploy, and hence numbers have increased in these higher ranks.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has sought legal advice on the status of the Minute of Separation under Scottish Law as the equivalent of the Decree for Judicial Separation in applying the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975.

Kevan Jones: Yes. Departmental legal advisers referred questions regarding the status of a Minute of Separation under Scottish Law to a Scottish firm of solicitors in April 2006. The advice given by the Scottish firm of solicitors was subsequently applied by the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 ("the AFPS 1975") scheme administrators in deciding an individual's entitlement to restoration of widow's pension under the AFPS 1975 rules.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences there are between the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 in respect of pension payments following the subsequent remarriage or co-habitation of widows.

Kevan Jones: Where a widow has been granted a non attributable pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 ("AFPS 1975"), i.e.: in circumstances where the death of her husband was not attributable to service, and that widow subsequently marries or co-habits with another person, then the pension is no longer payable.
	In cases where a widow has been granted an attributable pension under AFPS 75 where her husband's death on or after 31 October 2000 was attributable to service, and that widow subsequently marries or co-habits with another person, her pension will remain in payment.
	Under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 ("AFPS 2005"), where a widow in receipt of a pension remarries or co-habits with another person, the pension payable under AFPS 2005 is unaffected.

Departmental Location

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what locations his Department's officials are based together with  (a) Army,  (b) Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force staff.

Kevan Jones: The site level location data for service and civilian personnel are not held in a format that allows cross comparison. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Kevan Jones: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma: Asylum

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of displaced people who have fled from Burma to Thailand since January 2010; whether he has had discussions with the government of Thailand on the safety and welfare of those people; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We received reports of people fleeing from Burma to Thailand since January 2010 but the numbers are unconfirmed. Following news that Thailand was intending to force 3,000 refugees to return to Burma, our ambassador to Thailand raised this matter with the Thai authorities stressing the importance of adherence to international standards and to Thailand's international obligations. We understand that the Royal Thai Government decided not to deport the 30 families it had initially identified for removal. We continue to closely monitor the situation are coordinating closely with UN High Commission for Refugees, US and EU partners and will continue to raise the issue with Thai authorities.

Burma: United Nations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often he receives reports from the EU Special Envoy on Burma on his activities; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The EU Special Envoy for Burma, Piero Fassino, regularly reports to EU member states including on his 20 November 2009 meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation of Burma and his engagement with regional parliamentarians and officials in Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, also in November 2009. More recently, Mr. Fassino reported on the EU Troika meeting with the Burmese Foreign Minister in December 2009 and on his meetings with Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and other partners, at the United Nations at the end of January 2010.
	There are currently no plans to make a statement but the UK welcomes Mr. Fassino's continued efforts to communicate the EU's position to the Burmese authorities, countries in the region and international partners to try and bring positive change to Burma.

Israel: Foreign Relations

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Israeli ambassador the matter of adherence to diplomatic protocol in commenting on proceedings in Parliament and internal British political activities.

David Miliband: I have no plans to discuss these matters with the Israeli ambassador. He, like everyone else, is entitled to his views on proceedings in Parliament.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: Israel

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consideration by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development of Israel's application for membership.

Ivan Lewis: The UK supports Israel's bid for accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. However, there remain a small number of issues, such as the scope of statistical data, which are being resolved in the course of the accession process.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the security situation in the Nuba mountain region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We remain concerned by the ongoing instability and humanitarian suffering in the Nuba mountains region of Southern Kordofan. We continue to monitor the situation closely, including through visits to the area. The forthcoming elections period will be crucial: we note that the voting for Governor and the State Assembly in Southern Kordofan has been delayed until a new census can be carried out.
	The Comprehensive Peace Agreement provides for popular consultations to be held in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. These will be essential to ensuring a lasting peace in Southern Kordofan and across Sudan as a whole. The dates and format of these consultations, and the referendum in Abyei (the third of the Three Areas) are yet to be finalised by the parties. It is essential that this process is inclusive and takes account of the legitimate concerns of the regions' populations.
	The UK continues to support projects to mitigate conflict and foster peace in the Three Areas and has committed £30 million over the next three years to provide basic services to households.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will make the Single Payment Scheme payment to Mrs. Mary Wilkinson of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire for 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Mrs. Wilkinson has received her payment.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost was of processing a single payment in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many payments of less than that amount were made in that period.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The National Audit Office calculated the average cost for administering a Single Payment Scheme claim for the 2008 scheme year (England only) as £1,743.
	29,897 claims under the Single Payment Scheme for 2008 scheme year (England only) had values equal to or less than £1,743. The values of claims could be adjusted however following the application of penalties or for over claims.

Carbon Emissions: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1578W, on carbon emissions: waste disposal, what the reference number is of the research project; which body undertook the research; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report on estimating carbon dioxide emissions from domestic burning.

Dan Norris: Research project ED431843 was undertaken by AEA Technology, and provides estimates of dioxin emissions from domestic burning. A copy of the research report has been placed in the House Library.

Departmental Correspondence

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to correspondence from Richard D. Hall dated  (a) 4 December 2009,  (b) 6 December 2009,  (c) 15 December 2009 and  (d) 2 March 2010 on animal mutilation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Neither DEFRA nor its agency, Animal Health, hold a record of having received correspondence of the dates referred to by the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Anderson).

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) disciplinary and  (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department in each of the last five years; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Department's staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff.

Dan Norris: The following tables show the number of disciplinary and capability procedures initiated and completed in each of the last five years. In this instance we are referring to capability as performance. They also show the number of staff dismissed in each of the years and percentage of staff subject to procedures who were dismissed for each of the procedures.
	The following information is provided for DEFRA and its agencies:
	
		
			   Disciplinary 
			   Initiated  Completed( 1)  Prop ortion  of staff( 2)  Dismissed  Percentage dismissed 
			 2009-10 69 55 0.7 6 9 
			 2008-09 58 51 0.5 5 9 
			 2007-08 43 43 0.4 12 30 
			 2006-07 50 50 0.4 20 40 
			 2005-06 34 34 0.3 11 32 
			 (1) Completed disciplinary cases short of dismissal would have concluded that the offences were either minor or serious misconduct and an appropriate warning or penalty would have been applied under DEFRA's disciplinary procedures. Alternatively the Decision Officer would have determined that the evidence did not support, or the offence did not warrant, a formal disciplinary warning. (2) The proportion of total DEFRA staff where disciplinary cases have been initiated. 
		
	
	
		
			   Capability 
			   Initiated  Completed  Proportion of staff( 1)  Dismissed  Percentage dismissed 
			 2009-10 33 27 0.3 5 15 
			 2008-09 35 28 0.3 5 23 
			 2007-08 38 38 0.3 9 24 
			 2006-07 30 30 0.2 10 34 
			 2005-06 22 22 0.2 9 41 
			 (1) The proportion of total DEFRA staff where capability cases have been initiated. 
		
	
	 Average time
	Information for this element of the questions is not available in all cases, we are therefore unable to provide the information requested.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people his Department employs to maintain its social media and social networking sites; and at what cost in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dan Norris: DEFRA does not employ anyone to maintain social media or social networking sites.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on maintaining its  (a) Flickr channel,  (b) YouTube channel and  (c) Twitter feed in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dan Norris: The annual licence fee for DEFRA's Flickr channel is $24.95 (US dollars). There is no licence fee for DEFRA's YouTube channel. There are no other costs and both channels are maintained by in-house staff. DEFRA does not have a Twitter feed.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Dan Norris: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

Departmental Surveys

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his Department and its agencies.

Dan Norris: The 2009 People Survey results for the Department and its agencies are now available in the Library. The results for core DEFRA and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are also available on their respective websites, as follows:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/work/staffsurvey/index.htm
	http://www.vmd.gov.uk/About/StaffSurvey.htm

Departmental Theft

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many thefts from his Department have been recorded in the last two years.

Dan Norris: The following tables show items of official property reported as lost or stolen in 2008-09 and 2009-10 (to 24 February 2010 only).
	
		
			  Item  2008-09  2009-10 
			 BlackBerrys 13 6 
			 Cameras 6 1 
			 CD/DVD writers 1 - 
			 Docking stations 2 - 
			 Hard Drives 5 - 
			 Laptops 66 33 
			 Mobile telephones 2 3 
			 Projectors 8 3 
			 Spider phone 6 - 
			 Wacom Bamboo A5 Pen and tablet 1 - 
			 Keyboard - 2 
			 Monitors - 7 
			 Tom Tom Device - 2 
			 Desktop PC - 4 
			 Binoculars - 2 
		
	
	DEFRA takes the loss of equipment very seriously and advice and guidance is issued regularly about security in an effort to minimise losses.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff of each grade in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months.

Dan Norris: The following tables show the expenditure for first class air and rail travel for  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff of each grade, for core DEFRA and the agencies that use the Corporate Travel Framework contract, for the 12-month period of February 2009 to January 2010.
	To identify spend by those agencies that do not use the Corporate Travel Framework or where it has been incurred outside these arrangements can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  (a) Ministers travel-February 2009 to January 2010 
			   Expenditure (£) 
			 Core DEFRA 14,850.64 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Staff travel-February 2009 to January 2010 
			   Grade  Expenditure (£) 
			 Animal Health Agency 5 535.14 
			  6 2,162.26 
			  7 3,474.50 
			  AO 9,019.78 
			  EO 1,261.14 
			  HEO 803.22 
			  SCS 2,096.14 
			  SEO 1,188.11 
			 Animal Health Agency total  20,540.29 
			
			 Core DEFRA 5 36,832.46 
			  6 88,169.88 
			  7 257,929.78 
			  AA 885.00 
			  AO 6,375.38 
			  EO 13,683.44 
			  HEO 132,837.21 
			  SCS 130,380.13 
			  SEO 105,905.87 
			 Core DEFRA total  757,281.32 
			
			 Rural Payments Agency 5 4,281.12 
			  6 73,242.89 
			  7 123,106.59 
			  AO 17,508.27 
			  CX 79.00 
			  EO 17,993.47 
			  G6 3,343.88 
			  G7 15,884.63 
			  GR7 515.32 
			  GRA 4,310.98 
			  HEO 70,184.61 
			  HMI 92.52 
			  SCS 30,490.98 
			  SEN 106.35 
			  SEO 133,752.07 
			  SHM 2,143.08 
			  TEA 1,020.64 
			 Rural Payments Agency total  498,056.40 
			
			 Government Decontamination Service 5 38.82 
			  6 801.10 
			  7 1,439.68 
			  AO 61.00 
			  HEO 155.14 
			  SEO 53.52 
			 Government Decontamination Service total  2,365.76 
			
			 Marine and Fisheries Agency 5 378.00 
			  6 3,045.10 
			  7 4,428.54 
			  AO 854.64 
			  EO 65.32 
			  HEO 2,070.80 
			  SCS 1,412.47 
			  SEO 2,996.07 
			 Marine and Fisheries Agency total  15,250.94 
			
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Studies 7 1,363.65 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Studies total  1,363.65

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to remove the regulatory provisions which restrict councils collecting recyclable and residual waste from nearby household and business premises at the same time.

Dan Norris: There are no regulatory provisions that prohibit local authorities collecting waste from household and business premises at the same time. However, we are aware that the Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme (LATS) has been cited as a barrier to the collection of waste from business premises by local authorities.
	The consultation 'Meeting EU Landfill Diversion Targets' published on 18 March asks for views on the effectiveness of existing policies, including LATS. Responses from this consultation and further work by DEFRA will inform a second consultation later in the year on the most effective combination of policies to ensure that England meets its landfill diversion targets. We anticipate that the impact of LATS on council provision of waste services for businesses will be a consideration in this wider assessment of the policies needed to ensure England meets its landfill diversion targets.
	Meanwhile, DEFRA is looking at ways to encourage greater recycling of waste from business premises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. In particular, we are funding the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to test a number of trade waste 'Bring Banks' and trade waste collection schemes to establish how some of the barriers to higher recycling can be most effectively overcome.

Foxes

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which urban foxes cause  (a) hygiene and  (b) litter problems.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has made no assessment of the hygiene and litter problems caused by urban foxes.

National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group in the last 24 months.

Dan Norris: The National Fly-tipping Prevention Group consists of the representatives of landowner organisations, enforcement bodies and Government. It meets on a quarterly basis to advise and influence Government and to share best practice on the prevention of fly-tipping on public and private land.
	The group recently created a website which provides information to anybody who wishes to prevent or deal with fly-tipping:
	http://www.tacklingflytipping.com/
	The most recent available sets of minutes have been placed in the House Library.

Recycling

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recycling industry can contribute towards meeting Courtauld II recycling targets in local authority areas; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Norris: Phase II of the Courtauld Commitment includes a new target for a 10 per cent. reduction in the carbon impact of grocery packaging: an estimated 1.1 million tonne CO2 equivalent emissions reduction through reducing the weight, increasing the recycling rates and increasing the recycled content of grocery packaging.
	This new target is a key contribution to our aim of optimising packaging reductions, wider eco-design and increasing recycling, as set out in the Packaging Strategy. It will encourage companies to take up recycled contents in their packaging-another objective of the Packaging Strategy.
	Separate from the Courtauld Commitment, DEFRA and the devolved Administrations have recently published a consultation document proposing higher producer responsibility targets for packaging, covering 2011-20. The consultation seeks views on the extent to which the recycling industry (among others) can help achieve local recycling targets. The consultation can be found at
	www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/packaging-regs/index.htm

Recycling

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities did not meet their targets for recycling waste in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what percentage of waste was recycled in each such area in that period.

Dan Norris: During the 2008-09 period, 21 local authorities did not meet their target for recycling household waste in line with National Indicator 192. The targets and percentages of waste actually recycled in each of these authorities are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Local authority  Target  Actual 
			 Bradford City MDC 29 26.31 
			 Bristol City Council 37.3 35.52 
			 Bury MBC 28 26.87 
			 Croydon LB 28 27.71 
			 Greenwich LB 43.4 42.09 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham LB 28 27.84 
			 Haringey LB 28 22.13 
			 Hillingdon LB 35.5 35.32 
			 Hounslow LB 25 23.6 
			 Manchester City Council MBC 24 20.28 
			 Newham LB 20 15.4 
			 Plymouth City Council 31 30.04 
			 Slough 26 25.68 
			 South Gloucestershire Council 43 39.84 
			 South Tyneside MBC 28.5 27.62 
			 St. Helens MBC 30 28.78 
			 Stoke-on-Trent City Council 28.7 26.84 
			 Sunderland City Council MBC 28 25.59 
			 Tameside MBC 30 28.78 
			 Waltham Forest LB 34 27.84 
			 Westminster City Council LB 25 23.04

Reptiles: Smuggling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reptiles were seized by HM Revenue and Customs under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species in each year 2000; and how many were seized in each seizure.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The numbers of live reptiles seized by officers of HM Revenue and Customs under the convention of international trade in endangered species (CITES) for the financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09 are given in the following table.
	Information on all CITES seizures made by the former HM Customs and Excise prior to 2005 is available on the DEFRA website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/wildlife/trade-crime/cites/action-uk.htm#enforcement
	
		
			   Seizures  Number of specimens  Seizures include 
			 2005-06 27 1,336 501 Leopard tortoises 
			220 Caiman crocodiles 
			149 Royal pythons 
			170 Terrapins 
			 
			 2006-07 38 1,313 325 Terrapins 
			294 Spiny tailed lizards 
			138 Leopard tortoises 
			 
			 2007-08 21 347 200 Tortoises 
			 
			 2008-09 32 1,044 356 Turtles 
			111 Leopard tortoises 
			100 Hingeback tortoises 
			98 Spiny tailed lizards

Rodents

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the most recent survey on rodents derived from data from the English House Condition Survey to be published.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The next report covering the period up to 2007 will be available soon. Final revisions are under way and we aim for it to be available by the end of May 2010.

Trade Unions

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days staff of his Department and its agencies spent on trade union activity in the latest year for which figures are available; and what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of such activity.

Dan Norris: We have interpreted 'Trade Union Activity' as the facility time DEFRA and our agencies provide to our trade union representatives.
	DEFRA and our agencies currently provide trade union representatives with approximately 6,805 days facility time annually.
	For the year 2009-10 the cost to the Department has been estimated as £1,200,000.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of each response to his Department's consultation on household waste incentive scheme  (a) application and designation guidance,  (b) technical issues guidance,  (c) finance guidance,  (d) coverage and disadvantaged groups guidance and  (e) unauthorised deposit or disposal guidance.

Dan Norris: Copies of responses received to the Department's June 2008 informal consultation on draft guidance for waste reduction schemes will be made available in the Library in due course.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the respondents were to his Department's consultation on  (a) incentives for recycling by households of May 2007,  (b) draft guidance on household waste incentive schemes of June 2008 and  (c) statutory good recycling service guidance of September 2008.

Dan Norris: The list of respondents for the Consultation on the Incentives for Recycling by Households, May 2007, can be found in the summary of responses which is available on DEFRA's website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/documents/incentives-responses-summary2007.pdf
	The respondents to the informal consultation on draft guidance, June 2008, are as listed. Some respondents submitted more than one response.
	Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association
	Association of Charity Shops
	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Birmingham City Council
	Bromsgrove District Council (did not comment on consultation documents)
	Cambridgeshire County Council
	Campaign for Real Recycling
	Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
	County Surveyors Society
	Coventry City Council
	ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University
	GMB Union
	Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
	Hampshire County Council
	Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee
	London Borough of Sutton
	Norfolk County Council
	Paediatric Continence Forum
	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
	Responses from private individuals
	South Gloucestershire Council (did not comment on consultation documents)
	Waste Watch
	The list of respondents to the formal consultation on statutory Good Recycling Service guidance, September 2008, can be found in the summary of responses which is available on DEFRA's website:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/documents/summary-consultation-responses.pdf

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2010,  Official Report, column 322W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, if he will place in the Library a copy of each response received to the informal consultation on draft guidance except the responses received from private individuals.

Dan Norris: Copies of responses received to the Department's June 2008 informal consultation on draft guidance for waste reduction schemes will be made available in the House Library in due course.

Waste Disposal: Public Opinion

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been commissioned by  (a) his Department,  (b) the Environment Agency and  (c) the Waste and Resources Action Programme on public attitudes to (i) waste collection and (ii) waste disposal in the last three years; and what the (A) title and (B) completion date of each such research project was.

Dan Norris: DEFRA commissioned the following projects on public attitudes to waste collection and waste disposal in the last three years:
	Building Greater Understanding of the Techniques and Processes Required to Promote Sustainable Waste Management through Behaviour Change Programme-completed June 2008.
	The Organic Waste Use Collection-completed October 2007.
	Enhancing Participation in Kitchen Waste Collection-completed March 2010.
	Attitudes to the Use of Organic Resources on Land-completed February 2009.
	Tracker Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviour Towards the Environment-completed September 2009.
	Testing Innovative Approaches for Achieving Sustainable Behaviours - Maiden Lane Gardens Food-Loop project-ongoing.
	The Environment Agency has not carried out any research in this area.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) undertook the following projects:
	Consumer Attitudes to Waste and Recycling Services. The conclusions from this research were used to inform the development of the Waste Collection Commitment-completed in September 2009.
	Barriers to Recycling at Home-completed in August 2008.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport conducts its procurement in accordance with UK Government's value for money policies and principles, utilising collaborative arrangements where these are available and in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework.
	The Department and its agencies generally provide staff catering and vending services via either an estates private finance initiative or facilities management contracts. These provisions are typically provided on a commercial basis and are not directly subsidised, and they operate in a competitive environment.
	For example, the Department's HQ facilities management contract requires the contractor to comply with Government guidance on sustainable food and farming in the delivery of the contract. The contract requires the contractor to take account of the various Government food initiatives, and directs them to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs websites, where the contractor is encouraged to consider higher level schemes such as The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Freedom Foods standards.
	Another example is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's estates private finance initiative contract, which requires the service provider to comply with the sustainable food procurement initiative and other Government guidance on food and farming in delivery of the service.
	As and when each of the Department's catering contracts needs to be renewed, consideration will be given to emerging higher level welfare standards when specifying replacement contracts.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Chris Mole: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

Departmental Theft

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has in place access control measures in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, issues staff awareness guidance on its Intranet and provides lockable pedestals and personal lockers. It operates a clear desk policy, ensuring that all personal or sensitive material is locked away at the end of each working day. Reminders on security awareness are disseminated to employees via security liaison officers within the Department teams and 24/7 security staff are employed at principal sites within the Department.

Electronic Warfare

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused  (a) deliberately and  (b) through solar activity on the critical infrastructure of his Department.

Chris Mole: The Government's Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, considers a number of methods of cyber attack, including those that generate high levels of radio frequency power that can damage or disrupt unprotected electronics.
	In addition, the Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG) provides Government Departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.
	It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for this Department to confirm whether it holds information about assessments of the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. Such disclosure could undermine the integrity and security of the UK's critical national infrastructure and thereby expose it to potential threats, which is not in the public interest.

High Speed Two

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the route for the High Speed Two rail link; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has spoken to a number of stakeholders, including representatives of the Chilterns Conservation Board and the National Trust, as well as Members of this House whose constituencies lie on the recommended route. The Department for Transport also receives general correspondence covering many policy areas, including high speed rail and the conurbations it may serve, from a number of individuals, organisations and companies.
	In identifying its recommended route for a high speed rail line from London to the west midlands, HS2 Ltd. held confidential discussions with relevant county and local planning authorities regarding specific options. A summary list and the full text of various detailed submissions which stakeholders submitted during the engagement process undertaken by HS2 Ltd. was published alongside the Command Paper.

High Speed Two

Tim Boswell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what costs his Department has incurred in the preparation of High Speed Two proposals for a new rail line linking London with the West Midlands.

Chris Mole: HS2 Ltd.'s budget for the period between 14 January 2009 and the end of the 2009-10 financial year is £8.6 million.
	In addition, existing staff and budget resources within the Department for Transport were deployed in the preparation of the Command Paper, 'High Speed Rail'.

High Speed Two: Job Creation

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely number of construction jobs that will be created by High Speed Two.

Chris Mole: HS2 Ltd.'s report, published by the Government on 11 March 2010, estimates that around 10,000 jobs could be created during construction, with a further 2,000 permanent jobs through operation of High Speed Two.
	Should High Speed Two be taken forward, Government will work with industry to draw up a High Speed Rail Industrial Strategy, including the establishment of a high level supply chain forum. Further details can be found in chapter 12 of the High Speed Rail Command Paper (CM 7827), copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Network Rail: Industrial Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) employees and  (b) contractors of Network Rail have been (i) killed and (ii) injured at work in each year since its inception; and what cause was attributed to each incident.

Chris Mole: Accidents and incidents on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).
	Table 1 lists the number of Network Rail employees and its contractors fatally injured while undertaking railway operations reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation. These data exclude such employees fatally injured in road traffic accidents and fatalities arising out of a railway under construction, the latter being reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
	The data also exclude other railway employees (e.g. train crew) that have been fatally injured on Network Rail infrastructure. Table 2 lists all reportable railway employee fatalities that have occurred on Network Rail infrastructure since Network Rail was formed in October 2002 to the end of 2008.
	Injury data for Network Rail employees and contractors, and information on the cause of each incident could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1: Fatalities to Network Rail employees and contractors October 2002 - 08 
			   Network Rail employee  Network Rail contractor  Total 
			 2002 (October to December) 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 4 4 
			 2004 0 8 8 
			 2005 0 3 3 
			 2006 0 1 1 
			 2007 2 0 2 
			 2008 0 2 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Fatalities to railway employees on Network Rail infrastructure October 2002 - 08 
			   Number 
			 2002 (October to December) 0 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 10 
			 2005 5 
			 2006 3 
			 2007 2 
			 2008 2

Network Rail: Manpower

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many staff were employed at Network Rail in each year since its inception.

Chris Mole: This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London, N1 9AG.

Railway Signals

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many signals passed at danger incidents have occurred in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: The number of signals passed at danger incidents that have occurred in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of signals passed at danger 
			 2005 338 
			 2006 349 
			 2007 325 
			 2008 330 
			 2009 261 
		
	
	Since the introduction of the Train Protection and Warning System, there has been a significant and sustained reduction in the risk from signals passed at danger.

Railway Signals: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many signals passed at danger incidents were attributable to  (a) driver error,  (b) defective signals,  (c) obscured signals or  (d) another cause in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: There have been no fatalities or injuries caused by signals passed at danger on Britain's railways in the last five years, and the numbers of signals passed at danger are decreasing year on year. Information on specific causes of these incidents could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Railway Signals: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) fatalities,  (b) injuries and  (c) incidents of damage to property have been caused by signals passed at danger incidents in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: There have been no fatalities or injuries caused by signals passed at danger on Britain's railways in the last five years.
	Data for incidents of damage to property caused by signals passed at danger are not held.

Railways: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many ( a) drivers,  (b) conductors or other train staff and  (c) passengers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured in railway accidents that did not occur within railway stations in each of the last 10 years; and what cause was attributed to each incident.

Chris Mole: Accidents and incidents on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95). Under these regulations, the geographical location of the accident/ incident is recorded. There is no further breakdown of location into a sub-category, e.g. station, signal box, on the line. Therefore, the breakdown of the data for accidents that have not occurred at stations and the cause of each accident could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the number of fatal injuries and non fatal injuries for the period 1999 to 2008 for all railway employees, including contractors, and passengers that have occurred on railway infrastructure can be provided and is shown in Tables 1 and 2. The data for railway employees have been broken down into train drivers, conductors and other train crew and other railway employees.
	
		
			  Table 1: Fatal injuries, passengers and railway employees 1999 to 2008, all railways 
			   Passengers  Train drivers  Conductors and other train crew  Other railway employees  Total 
			 1999 54 2 0 3 59 
			 2000 15 0 0 4 19 
			 2001 17 2 2 5 26 
			 2002 23 0 0 4 27 
			 2003 13 1 0 4 18 
			 2004 13 1 0 9 23 
			 2005 10 2 0 2 16 
			 2006 8 2 1 1 12 
			 2007 6 0 0 2 8 
			 2008 5 0 0 4 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Non-fatal injuries, passengers and railway employees 1999 to 2008, all railways 
			   Passengers  Train drivers  Conductors and other train crew  Other railway employees  Total 
			 1999 2,737 426 182 1,875 5,220 
			 2000 2,697 401 164 1,958 5,220 
			 2001 2,564 409 141 1,884 4,998 
			 2002 2,485 380 151 1,953 4,969 
			 2003 2,550 372 167 1,809 4,898 
			 2004 2,627 327 280 1,693 4,927 
			 2005 2,800 326 258 1,695 5,079 
			 2006 2,539 291 241 1,215 4,286 
			 2007 2,801 209 263 959 4,232 
			 2008 2,489 247 225 836 3,797

Railways: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) fatalities,  (b) injuries and  (c) incidents of damage to property on the railways have been recorded in each of the last five years; and what cause was attributed to each incident.

Chris Mole: The number of fatalities and injuries on the railways for the period 2004-08 is shown in Tables 1 and 2. The information is based on accidents notified to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).
	
		
			  Table 1: Fatal injuries, 2004-08 
			  Number 
			  Category  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Passengers 13 10 8 6 5 
			 Railway employees(1) 10 6 4 2 4 
			 Other members of the public 12 17 11 14 19 
			 Trespassers and suicides 253 281 320 287 291 
			 Total 288 314 343 309 319 
			 (1) Includes contractors. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Non-fatal injuries, 2004-08 
			  Number 
			  Category  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Passengers 2,627 2,800 2,539 2,801 2,489 
			 Railway employees(1) 2,300 2,279 1,747 1,431 1,308 
			 Other members of the public 69 60 73 51 58 
			 Trespassers and suicides 132 127 140 122 156 
			 Total 5,128 5,266 4,499 4,405 4,011 
			 (1) Includes contractors. 
		
	
	The number of incidents of damage to property is neither reported or held by the independent Office of Rail Regulation.

Railways: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the last 100 railway incidents reported to the Office of Rail Regulation, Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate and the Health and Safety Executive were in each constituent part of the UK.

Chris Mole: In line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is unable to provide information on the last 100 incidents reported to them.
	Statements of how ORR is following the code can be found on its website at:
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1862

Railways: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) individuals,  (b) firms,  (c) companies and  (d) other organisations have been prosecuted for breaches of (i) health and safety and (ii) other legislation in respect of railway incidents in each year since its inception.

Chris Mole: Since its inception as the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain's railways on 1 April 2006, the independent Office of Rail Regulation has brought 20 successful prosecutions for breaches of health and safety legislation in respect of railway incidents. Details of these prosecutions can be found on the independent Office of Rail Regulation's website at:
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk
	The independent Office of Rail Regulation has not brought any prosecutions for breaches of other legislation.
	Details of prosecutions taken by the Health and Safety Executive prior to 2006 can be found in the Health and Safety Executive annual reports on railway safety, copies of which are available from the Libraries of the House.

Railways: Fares

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent progress has been made on the provision of through tickets; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Each train operator's passenger licence requires them to be a party to, and comply with, arrangements for through tickets approved by the Secretary of State.
	The arrangements are contained in an inter-operator agreement called the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement and ensure that through tickets are available to all other rail destinations in Great Britain. There are also arrangements for through tickets to other networks including, for example, the London Underground.

Road Traffic: Severn Bridge

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when his Department last assessed the traffic flows across the Severn crossings.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency reviews traffic flow data on a monthly basis which is collected by Severn River Crossing plc, the operator for the crossings.

Road Traffic: Severn Bridge

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what information his Department holds on the volume of traffic moving across the Severn crossings at different times of the day.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency holds traffic data broken down into hourly, daily and monthly flows for westbound traffic on the Severn crossings.

Road Traffic: Severn Bridge

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the average number of vehicles using the Severn crossings at each time of day; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Vehicle numbers are counted in the westbound direction as part of the toll collection, which is in that direction only. The average numbers of westbound vehicles using the Severn crossings during 2009 for each hour of the day are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Severn crossings: Average hourly vehicle flow during 2009 (westbound) 
			  Time  Vehicle flows 
			 00:00-01:00 344 
			 01:00-02:00 240 
			 02:00-03:00 200 
			 03:00-04:00 180 
			 04:00-05:00 214 
			 05:00-06:00 365 
			 06:00-07:00 841 
			 07:00-08:00 1,663 
			 08:00-09:00 1,891 
			 09:00-10:00 1,864 
			 10:00-11:00 1,958 
			 11:00-12:00 2,140 
			 12:00-13:00 2,269 
			 13:00-14:00 2,356 
			 14:00-15:00 2,478 
			 15:00-16:00 2,776 
			 16:00-17:00 3,384 
			 17:00-18:00 3,555 
			 18:00-19:00 2,867 
			 19:00-20:00 1,821 
			 20:00-21:00 1,345 
			 21:00-22:00 1,004 
			 22:00-23:00 757 
			 23:00-24:00 530 
			 Total 37,042

Road Traffic: Severn Bridge

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many vehicles in each charging category travel across the Severn crossings on average each day at each time of day.

Chris Mole: Vehicle numbers are counted in the westbound direction as part of the toll collection, which is in that direction only. The average hourly flows of vehicles in each charging category travelling westbound during 2009 across the Severn crossings are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Severn crossings: average hourly flows during 2009  ( westbound) 
			  Time  Class1 (£5.50)  Class2 (£10.90)  Class3 (£16.40)  Exempt 
			 00:00-01:00 242 20 80 3 
			 01:00-02:00 136 18 83 3 
			 02:00-03:00 93 17 88 2 
			 03:00-04:00 70 19 89 1 
			 04:00-05:00 78 23 110 2 
			 05:00-06:00 133 51 177 4 
			 06:00-07:00 421 156 257 7 
			 07:00-08:00 1,101 285 260 16 
			 08:00-09:00 1,401 238 237 15 
			 09:00-10:00 1,416 201 233 14 
			 10:00-11:00 1,519 189 232 18 
			 11:00-12:00 1,694 193 236 19 
			 12:00-13:00 1,795 206 246 22 
			 13:00-14:00 1,857 227 249 23 
			 14:00-15:00 1,952 254 247 26 
			 15:00-16:00 2,221 295 228 31 
			 16:00-17:00 2,807 329 202 47 
			 17:00-18:00 3,087 250 167 52 
			 18:00-19:00 2,525 164 142 36 
			 19:00-20:00 1,573 106 122 20 
			 20:00-21:00 1,147 77 109 12 
			 21:00-22:00 836 54 104 10 
			 22:00-23:00 618 39 93 7 
			 23:00-24:00 415 27 84 3 
			 Total 29,137 3,438 4,075 393

Roads: Tolls

Lee Scott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what funding his Department has received for  (a) the road pricing demonstration projects and  (b) other funds associated with national road pricing in each of the last five years; and how much he expects to receive for such projects in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has received no funding in connection with the Demonstrations Project or with any other work it has done on road pricing.

Speed Limits

John Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress his Department has made on the development of a digital road map containing speed limit data; and when he expects such a map to be available to the public.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has completed development of a draft technical document that gives traffic authorities guidance on how to collect and manage digital speed limit data in a nationally consistent way. This draft is being tested through pilots, first in Lancashire as part of a Road Safety Partnership Grant-funded project looking at an advisory form of Intelligent Speed Adaptation, and more recently through a second pilot with Greater Manchester, building on work they have started as part of their review of A and B road speed limits. The technical document will be made available to authorities to use following any necessary post-pilot revisions.

Transport Innovation Fund: Reading Berkshire

John Howell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what correspondence his Department has had with Reading borough council on its bid for funds from the Transport Innovation Fund in each month of 2010.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport exchanged correspondence with Reading borough council in January 2010 about economic appraisal issues relating to their proposal for a Low Emission Zone, which formed part of the council's bid to the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) submitted at the end of January 2010.
	The Department also received in January 2010 a request from the council for additional pump-priming funding for work on modelling and the economic and environmental appraisal of options relating to development of their TIF proposals. The Department replied in February 2010 confirming the award of funding for this work.
	The Department wrote to Reading borough council about their TIF bid in March 2010 following the announcement that a new Urban Challenge Fund will replace TIF. A copy of the letter sent to the council is available on the Department's website under the heading 'Transport Innovation Fund' at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/foi/responses/2010.

Unite

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what  (a) facilities and  (b) staff time (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies provide to trade union staff representatives of Unite; and at what annual cost to his Department.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has staff represented by Unite at the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA).
	In relation to VOSA:
	 (a) Unite staff have access to and use of the same standard office facilities as other staff
	 (b) 129 days (equal to 0.59 full-time equivalent) were allocated in year 2009-10
	The estimated salary costs were £15,400 for 2009-10
	GCDA allow official trade union representatives paid time off to carry out union duties relating to GCDA and relevant training to carry out official duties. GCDA can provide further information relating to annual costs only at disproportionate cost.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Recruitment

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department has spent under each budget heading on the recruitment of additional staff in response to the recession in each of the last two years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The amount spent on recruitment by the Department in response to the recession in the last two years cannot be provided, as recruitment costs are not recorded separately within our financial systems.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 3 November 2009,  Official Report, column 816W, on departmental telephone services, whether her Department awarded contracts for the provision of services relating to its main customer contact number.

Jonathan R Shaw: All telephony services are provided to the Department under a contract with BT; this contract covers all customer contact numbers.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methodology her Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation "if she will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of her Department's policies since 1997" could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: When deciding whether a response to a parliamentary question is likely to incur disproportionate cost, DWP staff follow the guidance set by the Cabinet Office which is as follows:
	 Disproportionate cost
	7.26 There is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) which is the level above which Departments can refuse to answer a PQ. The current disproportionate cost threshold for written questions (the limit does not apply to oral questions) is £800 (from 20 January 2010)(6).
	7.27 Since 1991 the disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) has been set by HM Treasury at eight times the average marginal cost of answering Written Parliamentary Questions. Marginal cost is judged as the direct cost of civil servants' time. Average marginal cost is based on a one-month sample of all Written parliamentary Questions answered by those departments with the highest volume of questions. Such samples are taken on a quinquennial basis. In years between quinquennial samples, the Treasury applies indexation to the DCT, but only increases it in £50 steps to avoid the need for frequent small changes. HM Treasury has established the average cost of answering of a written PQ as £154.00 and an oral question as £425.00.
	7.28 Where officials are recommending that a question is not answered due to disproportionate cost, a note setting out the reasons, justifications and the full costs should be provided to the responsible Minister. The cost estimate should be based on a calculation of the cost of civil servants of the relevant grade working for the required length of time to assemble the information. Cabinet Office guidance for officials drafting answers to PQs refers to the fact that 'where information is being refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost, there should be a presumption that any of the requested information which is readily available should be provided.' A Minister may still decide to answer a question, even if providing the answer results in costs above the DCT, for example, on public interest grounds.
	7.29 It is practice in some departments to agree to provide a Member information initially refused (on disproportionate cost grounds) by paying the balance over the disproportionate cost threshold. However, this option may not be available if the relevant officials would not in practice be available to do the work.
	7.30 It should be noted that the 'disproportionate cost' answer is intended to be used where the information is held in an accessible form but is expensive to identify. It is not for cases where the information is not held at all (in the latter case the answer would say 'the information is not held' or similar).
	7.31 The suggested wording for a disproportionate cost answer is:
	"The information is not readily available/held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost."

Newspaper Licensing Agency

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payment from  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its agencies to the Newspaper Licensing Agency was made in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions was created in June 2001. The payments made to the Newspaper Licensing Agency (excluding VAT) in each full year since then are set out in the following table. The press cuttings to which they refer cover the whole range of the Department's businesses including the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, and Jobcentre Plus.
	The volume of cuttings has increased considerably throughout the recession as mentions of the work of Jobcentre Plus have increased. Since December 2008 this has also included coverage from regional titles. A review of the Department's licensing arrangements for press cuttings is currently under way.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002-03 33,959 
			 2003-04 63,471 
			 2004-05 70,578 
			 2005-06 93,781 
			 2006-07 90,141 
			 2007-08 94,631 
			 2008-09 153,189 
			 2009-10 208,027

Pensions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of those employed in the  (a) public and  (b) private sector were contributing to a pension plan in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of  (a) public and  (b) private sector employees had no pension provision in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The available information is set out in the following tables. These estimates relate to employee pension participation in employer-sponsored pension schemes and the data are presented at the employee jobs level rather than an individual level, as an individual may have more than one job and the pension provision may vary between jobs. In the circumstances, there may be some double counting both within and between sectors for those employees with more than one job.
	
		
			  (a) Number of public sector employee jobs by pension provision 
			   Total with pension provision( 1 ) (thousand)  Percentage  Total without pension provision (thousand)  Percentage 
			 1997 4,855 79 1,259 21 
			 1998 4,954 79 1,306 21 
			 1999 5,158 81 1,234 19 
			 2000 5,230 82 1,179 18 
			 2001 5,170 82 1,156 18 
			 2002 5,216 81 1,220 19 
			 2003 5,427 82 1,162 18 
			 2004 5,257 84 970 16 
			 2005 5,543 84 1,085 16 
			 2006 5,556 84 1,040 16 
			 2007 5,703 84 1,055 16 
			 2008 5,755 84 1,063 16 
			 2009 5,930 84 1,116 16 
			 (1) All employees including those whose pay was affected by absence.  Notes: 1. 1997 is the first year for which ASHE pension membership data are available. 2. Public sector includes central Government, local authorities, public corporations and nationalised industries. 3. Figures will include some employees who are members of a pension scheme but not making an employee contribution, for example through a salary sacrifice scheme. 4. Figures for number of jobs are for indicative purposes only and should not be considered an accurate estimate of employee job counts.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), United Kingdom. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Number of private sector employee jobs by pension provision 
			   Total with pension provision( 1)  (thousand)  Percentage  Total without pension provision (thousand)  Percentage 
			 1997 7,854 46 9,128 54 
			 1998 8,034 46 9,427 54 
			 1999 8,220 46 9,592 54 
			 2000 8,363 46 9,763 54 
			 2001 8,530 46 9,911 54 
			 2002 8,872 48 9,537 52 
			 2003 8,637 47 9,734 53 
			 2004 8,007 44 10,007 56 
			 2005 7,861 42 10,694 58 
			 2006 7,942 43 10,722 57 
			 2007 7,845 41 11,291 59 
			 2008 7,576 39 11,764 61 
			 2009, 6,957 37 11,655 63 
			 (1) All employees including those whose pay was affected by absence.  Notes: 1. 1997 is the first year for which ASHE pension membership data are available. 2. Private sector includes employees from private companies, sole proprietors, partnerships, and non-profit institutions serving households. 3. Figures will include some employees who are members of a pension scheme but not making an employee contribution, for example through a salary sacrifice scheme. 4. Figures for number of jobs are for indicative purposes only and should not be considered an accurate estimate of employee job counts.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), United Kingdom.

Unemployment Benefits

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new claims there were for  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) employment and support allowance in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: We are currently looking closely at the process of migrating incapacity benefits customers to employment and support allowance, to develop a detailed strategy.
	We are using the work capability assessment in employment and support allowance to fairly and accurately assess an individual's functional capability and therefore their entitlement to benefit. The assessment will correctly identify those people who have limited capability for work because of a physical or mental health condition, and will ensure that people who are able to undertake work related activity receive the support they need to help them prepare to get into work.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  N umber of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance commencements-Great Britain and abroad since 1997 
			   Number of commencements 
			 1997 981,100 
			 1998 849,700 
			 1999 815,400 
			 2000 791,900 
			 2001 762,600 
			 2002 726,300 
			 2003 707,500 
			 2004 673,700 
			 2005 626,100 
			 2006 603,900 
			 2007 619,000 
			 2008 560,700 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Years are based on the sum of four quarters ending February, May, August and November. 3. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 4. Data will include those claimants who make another claim to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance within 90 days of their previous claim terminating.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample. 
		
	
	
		
			  N umber of employment and support allowance commencements-Great Britain and abroad 
			   Number of commencements 
			 2008 54,150 
			 Total 2009 (year to date)(1) 466,970 
			 (1) Provisional Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Survey  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Data published at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp 3. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 4. Data are only available for the first three quarters of 2009, so the 2009 total is the total in the year to date. 5. The figures relating to employment support allowance have been thoroughly quality assured to National Statistics standard. However it should be noted that this is a new benefit using a new data source which may not have reached steady state in terms of operational processing and retrospection. Hence most recent data shown are provisional.

Vocational Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations she has received on the introduction of a local student, local provider approach to residential training centres; and what recent assessment she has made of the likely effect of the introduction of this approach on  (a) the employment prospects of participants with a disability and  (b) the level of funding provided for residential training centres.

Jonathan R Shaw: Residential training college providers were first informed in January 2009 that their current contracts are due to finish in 2011, and that future contracts will be awarded following an open competition.
	Department officials have engaged with existing and potential providers on numerous occasions to discuss the future provision. We are also actively considering how best to engage customers (service users) as we progress this work.
	We know from evaluation undertaken in 2006 that residential courses tend to exclude some customers, including those who have caring responsibilities. The new contracting arrangements seek to ensure that appropriate support will be available locally to a broader range of customers including women, ethnic minority groups and those who are unable to travel long distances.
	Currently coverage is uneven; there is no provision in Scotland, Wales and the North West of England. The new contracts offer an important opportunity to provide a better geographical coverage, which will be an important aim of the open competition. It will also help ensure that potential customers of this expensive provision are not disadvantaged because of where they live. We want to use this opportunity to increase the focus on employment, seeing more people helped into work, as well as obtaining better value for money.
	Following open competition and a broadening of the supplier base, we anticipate that more customers will be able to access this provision locally, which in turn will enable a significant reduction in the unit cost.
	The Department is responsible for ensuring it achieves the best value for money for any provision it contracts for. This is done through its Commissioning Strategy and by using open competition to procure any new provision. We recognise that the existing residential training providers funding may be affected by the open competition but, in the same way as other potential providers, they will be able to submit a bid to deliver the provision if they wish to do so. We have given current residential training providers over two years notice so that they can plan ahead.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation "if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997" could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: No such parliamentary questions have been tabled to the Secretary of State for International Development.

Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure adequate levels of funding for research and development of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to reduce the number of cases of MDR and XDR tuberculosis in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £24.5 million, from 2006 to 2013, to the Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development (TBA). The TBA is a not-for-profit public private partnership developing new tuberculosis drugs that will shorten treatment, be effective against susceptible and resistant strains of tuberculosis and be compatible with antiretroviral therapies for those patients who are co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis.
	DFID is also providing £12 million to the Tropical Disease Research special programme at WHO, from 2008 to 2013. The work of this programme has included accelerating the development of new diagnostics, including tuberculosis, and gaining evidence about how best to combine therapy for HIV and tuberculosis co-infection.

Iraq: Depleted Uranium

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library  (a) a copy of the letter from the Minister of State of 3 September 2009 on depleted uranium and  (b) other material held by his Department relevant to a possible connection between the use of depleted uranium and alleged increases in the incidence of (i) birth defects and (ii) cancer in Fallujah;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of claims that the incidence of  (a) birth defects and  (b) cancer has increased amongst residents of Fallujah as a result of the use of depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I will place in the Library a copy of the letter by the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) of 3 September 2009.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has consulted a number of international and Iraqi organisations with expertise in the health sector in Fallujah about alleged increases in birth defects in Fallujah. These organisations have confirmed to DFID that they are not aware of any reliable data that show such an increase in birth defects. DFID is not aware of any reliable data that demonstrate an increase in cases of cancer in Fallujah and has not carried out an assessment.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: None.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost. Disproportionate cost is determined via a disproportionate cost threshold (DCT). The current DCT is £800, announced in Parliament by the Treasury on 20 January 2010.
	A standard template was devised for use in response to all such questions. This standard template drew on a pre-existing central repository of departmental information, with contributions from NDPBs where appropriate. Using a standard template, which could be modified depending on the constituency, ensured that relevant information could be provided but in a format and content that did not incur disproportionate cost.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Joan Ruddock: This Department adheres wherever possible to the key objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI), which advises public sector bodies how they can specify higher animal welfare standards, including farm assurance schemes and higher level schemes such as the RSPCA's Freedom Foods standards. BaxterStorey, our contracted catering supplier for DECC, are committed to buying 100 per cent. British meat, both reared and processed, and are accredited to the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Scheme, demonstrating robust support for enhanced animal welfare, environmental responsibility, quality produce and supporting British producers.
	All eggs used by and provided by BaxterStorey to DECC are British and free range, and all milk used in the kitchens, cafes and hospitality service is British.
	Information about the Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fossil Fuels

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the levies on fossil fuels necessary to fund the Renewable Heat Incentive in each of the next five years.

David Kidney: holding answer 10 March 2010
	Government are looking at options of how best to fund the Renewable Heat Incentive and we will make a further announcement at Budget 2010. At this stage we cannot say for sure what the impact upon fossil fuels will be.
	Based on the current proposals for the Renewable Heat Incentive, our estimates of the costs of the RHI financial support for the next five years are:
	£56 million in 2011;
	£136 million in 2012;
	£263 million in 2013;
	£456 million in 2014;
	£717 million in 2015.
	 Note
	2009 prices: undiscounted

Gas and Electricity Markets Authority: Finsbury

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 929W, on the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority: public relations, what documents Finsbury has produced for Ofgem as part of its contract in the last 12 months.

David Kidney: None. Ofgem has made no payment to Finsbury for communications related activities since 2004-05.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what quantity of high activity radioactive waste has been returned to each port in each country of origin in 2010; and whether all of the radioactive waste in each consignment arose directly from the reprocessing of imported spent nuclear fuel.

David Kidney: Two shipments each consisting of 28 high level waste (HLW) canisters in one transport flask, with each canister (vitrified waste and stainless steel) weighing up to 550 kg, have been returned to date in 2010. One shipment was made to Mutsu Ogawara in Japan the other to Vlissingen in the Netherlands.
	The HLW being returned is a blend of the HLW arising from the reprocessing of overseas and UK spent nuclear fuel. The amount being returned to each country, in an overall programme expected to last some 10 years, is commensurate with the relevant amount of spent fuel sent to Sellafield for reprocessing.
	In accordance with the UK's policy of waste substitution, overseas intermediate and low level waste will remain in the UK and an additional radiologically equivalent amount of HLW will be substituted and returned in its place.
	In the case of the shipment to the Netherlands, as this was the only shipment of HLW due to be returned there, it included this additional amount of substituted HLW.
	Over the programme to return HLW to Japan, the return of substituted HLW will take place.
	The details of the status of individual customers' HLW returns is a commercial matter between the parties involved.

Wind Power

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind farms there are in each county in England.

David Kidney: There are a total of 128 wind farms in England spread over the following counties.
	
		
			  County  Wind farms 
			 Buckinghamshire 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 10 
			 City of Bristol 1 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 13 
			 Cumbria 15 
			 Derbyshire 1 
			 Devon 3 
			 Durham 14 
			 Essex 1 
			 Gloucestershire 2 
			 Greater London 1 
			 Kent 1 
			 Lancashire 5 
			 Lincolnshire 13 
			 London 1 
			 Merseyside 3 
			 Norfolk 5 
			 Northamptonshire 1 
			 Northumberland 3 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 
			 Oxfordshire 1 
			 Berkshire 1 
			 Shropshire 1 
			 Somerset 2 
			 Staffordshire 1 
			 Suffolk 2 
			 Tyne and Wear 3 
			 Wiltshire 1 
			 Worcestershire 2 
			 Yorkshire 18

JUSTICE

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many retailers have been prosecuted for selling  (a) alcohol and  (b) cigarettes to minors in England in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts in England for 'sale of, or allowing the sale of, alcohol to a person aged under 18' and 'sale of tobacco to underage persons' in England from 2005 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in Tables 1 and 2.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 will be available in the autumn of 2010.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for sale, or allowing the sale, of alcohol to a person under 18( 1) , England, 2005 - 08( 2, 3) 
			   Number 
			 2005 997 
			 2006 1,084 
			 2007 630 
			 2008 412 
			 (1) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises-Licensing Act 1964 S. 169 A and B as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 S. 1 Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 S.3 (Sch. Para. 4(1)). Sale of alcohol to person under 18-Licensing Act 2003 S. 146. Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18-Licensing Act 2003 S. 147. Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18-Licensing Act 1964 S. 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 S. 17. Persistently selling alcohol to children-Licensing Act 2003 S. 147A as added by Violent Crime reduction Act 2006. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for selling tobacco to underage persons, England, 2005 - 08( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Offence description  Statute  2005  2006  2007( 3)  2008 
			 Sale of tobacco etc. to persons under 16 years Children and Young Persons Act 1933, section 7, as amended by Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 77 69 67 117 
			 (1 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces and the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3 )The Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Order 2007 raised the age of sale from 16 to 18 on 1 October 2007. These figures are included in the table.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Children in Care: Child Trust Fund

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Bolton, West (Ruth Kelly) of 17 March 2010,  Official Report, column 853W, on children in care: Child Trust Fund, from which provider child trust funds managed by the Official Solicitor or Accountant of Court on behalf of looked-after children have been re-allocated.

Jack Straw: The poorest performers were the Scottish Friendly Managed Growth UK and Engage Investment Growth Fund. In addition funds held in Druids Sheffield Fund were also recommended for switching as limited information regarding performance was available.

Prison Sentences

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of prisoners in England and Wales are serving sentences following conviction for offences related to  (a) fraud,  (b) other financial sector crime and  (c) other white collar crime.

Claire Ward: At the end of June 2009, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,875, or 3 per cent. out of a total of 68,375 prisoners serving sentences for fraud and forgery in all prison establishments in England and Wales.
	While statistics are held on the numbers of prisoners serving sentences for fraud and forgery, they cannot be broken down further to show which of these convictions specifically related to the commission of financial sector or other white collar crime.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Training: Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether employees of the National Offender Management Service are remunerated through his Department's Pay and Pensions Service.

Jack Straw: Employees of the National Offender Management Services (NOMS) are remunerated through the Home Office Pay and Pensions Service. This arrangement came about because the Prison Service, which is a part of NOMS, was previously part of the Home Office. There are no plans to alter these arrangements.

TREASURY

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost. Disproportionate cost is determined via a disproportionate cost threshold (DCT). The current DCT is £800, announced in Parliament by ministerial statement on the 20 January 2010.
	The calculation of DCT is based on eight times the average marginal cost of answering written PQs. Marginal cost excludes the fixed costs of parliamentary branches and departmental overheads.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government procurement cards are in circulation; and how much was spent on such cards in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: During the period January to December 2009 there were 141,693 Government procurement cards in circulation.
	For the same period £995,872,758 was spent on these cards.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of  (a) unauthorised and  (b) fraudulent transactions using Government procurement cards there have been to date; and who is responsible for assessing the risks of fraud within the scheme.

Ian Pearson: In the period January-December 2009 no incidents of card misuse were reported by card issuers on the Government procurement card (GPC) framework agreement. Each Department or organisation using GPC is responsible for controlling and monitoring its own card programme and is not required to report incidents centrally.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government procurement card transactions there were in the last year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: During the period January to December 2009 there were a total of 6,565,825 transactions made on Government procurement cards.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Departments' officials have a Government procurement card; and what the approval mechanisms to authorise expenditure on such cards are.

Ian Pearson: The current numbers of officials within the HM Treasury family using a Government procurement card are as follows:
	HM Treasury: 620
	Treasury Solicitors: 46
	OGC: 367
	Buying Solutions: 340
	Debt Management Office: 0
	Each organisation has its own rigorous approval mechanism to authorise expenditure on such cards.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the average cost of processing a transaction on a Government procurement card.

Ian Pearson: This information is not available and in any event would vary by Department or organisation dependant on their internal processes.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which public bodies participate in the Government procurement card scheme.

Ian Pearson: There are currently 1,649 UK public sector organisations utilising the Government procurement card service. A full list has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the alignment of the  (a) criteria and  (b) guidance used to determine hardship when considering the recovery of monies owed.

Stephen Timms: Debt recovery decisions are made on the basis of the specific facts of each case and the statutory framework within which HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) respectively operates.
	In my statement to the House on 14 September 2009,  Official Report, column 141WS, I set out details of the collaboration between HMRC and DWP on debt recovery. This collaboration has not yet identified alignment on hardship as a priority area for supporting the Departments' debt recovery objectives.

Tax Allowances: Part-time Employment

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for a pilot scheme to implement an earnings disregard of £50 a week to assist people who are on benefits to take jobs of 16 or fewer hours a week.

Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply.
	Within the benefits system, some groups can already earn £50 per week or more without any loss of benefit. These include people on employment and support allowance and incapacity benefit who have access to a permitted work rule which allows them to earn up to £93.
	The progression to work pathfinders will operate in four Jobcentre Plus districts. They will come into effect from the date of claim for people claiming after 25 October 2010 and from April 2011 for people already on benefit at that date.
	The pathfinders will build on the existing regime for lone parents of regular work-focused interviews and action planning and require customers to undertake work-related activities which will aim to move them closer to the labour market and, ultimately, into work, when they become ready to do so. A £50 financial incentive/disregard was announced during the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
	The Government believe that we should improve work incentives for lone parents and intend to include an enhanced earnings disregard for them in the pathfinders. We are currently considering the level and structure of this disregard with a view to providing the most effective incentive for lone parents to try out work.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to reduce the frequency of inspections carried out under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Meg Hillier: There are no plans to reduce the frequency of inspections carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In line with the Government's principles for Better Regulation, inspections are performed with a frequency based upon a risk assessment of each designated establishment. The risks are regularly reviewed by the local inspector in the light of fresh information such that the frequency of inspections to each establishment may be altered at any time to match the perceived risk. Overall, it is not expected that this will result in a significant change in the total number of inspections carried out by an inspector over the course of a year.

Animal Welfare: EC Action

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects his Department's response to its consultation on EU proposals for a new Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes to be published.

Meg Hillier: We expect the response to the consultation on the proposals for the revision of EC Directive 86/609 to be published by early April 2010.

Asylum: Housing

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 25 January 2010,  Official Report, column 630W, on asylum: housing, how many asylum seekers are housed in dwellings that were formerly vacant social housing.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency contracts with a number of local authorities for the provision of accommodation for eligible asylum seekers. The agency's contracts with local authorities do not stipulate what type of housing they use to fulfil their contractual requirements.

British Nationality

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British nationality through naturalisation were made in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The following table provides the number of naturalisation applications that were made in the last three years.
	
		
			  Applications for naturalisation as a British citizen received, 2007-09 
			   Case type  Number of persons 
			 2007 Naturalisation 113,595 
			 2008 Naturalisation 115,890 
			 2009 Naturalisation (1)142,615 
			 (1) Provisional figures.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. 
		
	
	The information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such, it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

British Nationality

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which British nationality application forms may be requested over the telephone.

Phil Woolas: Of the 16 application forms used for British nationality only forms AN and MN1 may currently be requested by telephone. The others are available by downloading from the UK Border Agency website.

British Nationality

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications by children for British nationality were made in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The following table provides the current number of children applying for British nationality made in the last three years.
	
		
			  Minor applications for British citizenship received 2007-09 
			   Case type  Number of persons 
			 2007 Minor children 38,340 
			 2008 Minor children 36,565 
			 2009(1) Minor children 47,385 
			 (1) Provisional figures.  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Minor children are all children under 18 years old. 
		
	
	The information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such, it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

British Nationality

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people requested nationality application forms by telephone in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: There are no records of the number of people requesting nationality application forms by telephone. The number of calls answered in response to requests for application forms were:
	
		
			   Number 
			 April 2007-March 2008 114,198 
			 April 2008-March 2009 108,447 
			 April 2009-to date 95,281 
		
	
	The information has been provided from local management information and is not National Statistic. As such, it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

British Nationality

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was taken not to supply hard copies of British nationality application forms AN and MN1 and related guidance notes to people requesting them on the telephone; and what the reasons were for the decision.

Phil Woolas: The decision not to continue to supply hard copies of nationality forms AN and MN1 was taken on 12 February 2010. Most nationality forms are already available only by downloading from the UK Border Agency website and work is underway towards online application. Most applications are already made on forms accessed from the website. Discontinuing the supply of hardcopy forms AN and MN1 will save the agency in excess of £500,000 per annum.

Departmental Buildings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 20 July 2009,  Official Report, column 895W, on empty property, what  (a) residential and  (b) business properties his Department (i) owns and (ii) rents overseas; in which locations; and what the cost of those properties was to his Department in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: My Department including its executive agencies does not own any overseas property. The UK Border Agency rents residential and business properties on the continent for use by officials who operate from ports, terminals and office sites. Landlord and other costs of these properties from available information for 2008-09 were £3.6 million.
	The UK Border Agency also operates from Foreign and Commonwealth Office embassies and high commissions around the world for which my Department paid the FCO £16.2 million in 2008-09 for property and related services, excluding non-cash cost of capital and depreciation.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) disciplinary and  (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department in each of the last five years; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Department's staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office has clear policies and procedures in place for managing unsatisfactory performance and for investigating misconduct under a revised disciplinary policy introduced on 6 April 2009. These may result in dismissal of an individual. These policies are compliant with employment legislation and any dismissal will follow the published procedures which are available to all staff.
	The following table sets out information held in relation to formal disciplinary procedures that have been recorded centrally in the Home Office (excluding its agencies) in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Table 1: Formal disciplinary procedures within Home Office HQ 
			   Number of procedures  Number of staff subject to formal disciplinary procedure  Percentage of HQ staff subject to formal procedures  Number of staff where procedure resulted in dismissal  Percentage of staff dismissed as a proportion of those subject to disciplinary procedures that were proven 
			 2005-06 6 6 (2)- (4)- (4)- 
			 2006-07 9 9 (2)- 5 55.6 
			 2007-08 12 12 0.4 6 50.0 
			 2008-09 7 7 0.2 (4)- (4)- 
			 2009-10(1) 9 9 (3)- (4)- (4)- 
			 (1) Figures to 28 February 2010. (2) In 2005-06 and 2006-07 total staffing figures for the Home Office were combined to include Home Office HQ and the now UK Border Agency so a percentage cannot be provided. (3) The ONS Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES) for 2010 is due for completion by June 2010 so a percentage cannot be provided. (4) Where less than five members of staff were dismissed further information is withheld on confidentiality grounds.  Notes: 1. Civil service staffing statistics are collated by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) from Annual Civil Service Employment Surveys (ACSES). To calculate the percentage figures of HQ staff subject to formal procedures, we have used the ACSES return for 2008 and the latest ACSES report available for 2009. 2. Where a member of staff was subject to disciplinary procedures that covered two financial years we have included them in the year the final disciplinary penalty was administered. 3. The table excludes cases where procedures have been initiated but not yet concluded and cases where the case was withdrawn or not proven, or there was no case to answer. 4. Where a member of staff has been involved in several stages of the formal disciplinary procedures we have counted this as one procedure. 
		
	
	The Information relating to formal disciplinary procedures contained in this answer is drawn from centrally held records within Home Office HR which are populated with information provided by Line Managers and Human Resource Advisers. While every effort is made to ensure that the information provided by the business is input in a timely manner, some records are added retrospectively.
	We are unable to provide details of when each procedure was (i) initiated and (ii) completed or how much time on average was taken to complete each procedure as full details of this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	We are unable to provide information in relation to capability procedures (which we have interpreted as formal unsatisfactory performance procedures) as there were fewer than five procedures in each year. Further information is therefore withheld on grounds of confidentiality.

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department including its NDPBs follows guidance issued by DEFRA's Public Sector Food Procurement initiative on procuring meat and dairy products. The guidance shows how the Department can specify higher animal welfare standards, including farm assurance schemes and higher level schemes such as the RSPCA's Freedom Foods Standard.
	The Department's regional facilities management contracts provide for a range of services including catering and the contracts specify that the Contractor complies with Government guidance on sustainable food and farming in delivering the contract.

Departmental ICT

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which external IT contractors his Department has contracts with a monetary value of over £1 million.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department manages its supplier base in line with public and private sector best practice, including maintaining up to date records on spend by supplier. The Home Office and UKBA have current IT contracts in place with 10 IT contractors with a monetary value of over £1 million. The list of contractors is as follows:
	 Home Office and UKBA IT suppliers
	Atos Origin
	CSC
	Fujitsu
	Hewlett Packard
	IBM
	Morse
	Raytheon
	Savvis
	Serco
	Specialist Computer Centres

Departmental Languages

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants in his Department received coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months; what expenditure his Department incurred in providing such coaching; and in what languages such coaching was provided.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) No Home Office Ministers have attended coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months.
	 (b) There is no central mechanism for recording coaching in a foreign language for Home Office staff; to gather this information would incur a disproportionate cost. Where there is a business need, particularly for staff involved in EU and international business, language training is available and paid for out of local training budgets.

Departmental Location

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: For the period for which information is available (July 2007 onwards), no staff from the Home Department (excluding its agencies) have been located in  (a) Essex or  (b) Castle Point constituency. As a consequence, the Department has not incurred any expenditure on the relocation of staff posts from these locations.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 625W, on ministerial policy advisers, what activities the special envoy on youth violence and knife crime has undertaken to date.

Alan Campbell: I can confirm the following activities undertaken by Richard Taylor, the special envoy on youth violence and knife crime.
	
		
			  Date  Activity 
			 18 May 2009 School visit to Bexleyheath School 
			 19 May 2009 Meeting at Charlton Football ground re Youth Violence 
			 21 May 2009 Attendance at Ark Theatre to see Boy X production 
			 1 June 2009 Series of Radio Interviews regarding the judicial system and perpetrators of gun and knife crime 
			 5 June 2009 Attendance at South London Press 
			 6 June 2009 Attendance at 4 Women 2 Women Conference 
			 8 June 2009 School visit to La Retraite School 
			 9 June 2009 School visit to Robert Browning School 
			 10 June 2009 Meeting with News of the World 
			 18-19 June 2009 Attendance at Violence and Gang Culture Conference in Leeds 
			 30 June-2 July 2009 LGA Annual Group Conference 
			 3 July 2009 Interview with ITV Exploring Knife Crime 
			 7 July 2009 Attendance at Knife Crime Conference in Leeds 
			 8 July 2009 School visit to St Michaels School 
			 21 July 2009 Meeting with the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Families United and other victim's families affected by serious youth violence 
			 22 September 2009 Silence The Violence coalition meeting with the Home Secretary 
			 20 October 2009 Private screening of the film 'One Day' 
			 28 October 2009 Home Office Roundtable on Guns, Gangs and Knives 
			 9 December 2009 Meeting with Jaee Samant, Home Office 
			 8 January 2010 Attendance at the Youth Justice Board Serious Youth Violence Forum 
			 8 January 2010 Interview with Radio France International for piece on Knife Crime and Gangs in London 
			 14 January 2010 Meeting with Louise Casey, Home Office 
			 27 January 2010 Launch of the National Victims Service at the Royal Society of Arts by Jack Straw, Justice Secretary 
			 28 January 2010 Meeting with Jack Straw, Justice Secretary with other members of Families United 
			 10 February 2010 Meeting with Jack Straw, Justice Secretary to discuss prisoners access to Facebook 
			 11 February 2010 Meeting with Spirit of London Young Advisors to discuss serious youth violence 
			 12 February 2010 Meeting with Ron Belgrave, London Community Safety Lead, Greater London Authority 
			 13 February 2010 Attendance at Millwall Football Club anti-knife crime 'It Doesn't Have To Happen' event 
			 15 February 2010 Attendance at Home Office Community Fund Event, London 
			 15 February 2010 Roundtable meeting with Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Schools and Learners in the Department of Children, Schools and Families and other members of Families United 
			 23 February 2010 Attendance at Mothers Against Murder and Aggression Annual Conference, London 
			 26 February 2010 Attendance at Home Office Community Fund Event, Leeds 
			 1 March 2010 Attendance at private screening of 'Fear Factory' film, Leicester Square 
			 4 March 2010 Attendance at Silence the Violence Coalition meeting, London 
			 11 March 2010 Attendance at the Department for Children Schools and Families Youth Taskforce Conference, London 
			 15 March 2010 Attendance at the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime launch event, Lillian Baylis School, London 
			 15 March 2010 Attendance at Gladesmore School, London as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 16 March 2010 Attendance at Manchester Creative Academy, Manchester as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 16 March 2010 Attendance at Burnage Media Arts College, Manchester as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 17 March 2010 Attendance at Holte visual and performing arts college, Birmingham as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 17 March 2010 Attendance at Washwood Heath, Birmingham Technology College as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 18 March 2010 Attendance at Alsop High School, Liverpool as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 18 March 2010 Attendance at Calderstones, Liverpool as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 19 March 2010 Attendance at West Bridgford Comprehensive School, Nottingham as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 19 March 2010 Attendance at Bulwell, Nottingham as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign

Departmental Surveys

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his Department and its agencies.

Phil Woolas: The 2009 Home Office People Survey results are now available in the Library. These results are also available on the websites for Home Office and its agencies.

Detention Centres

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the longest period is for which  (a) a child and  (b) an adult has been detained by the UK Border Agency at an immigration removal centre in the last five years; and at which location in each case.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 March 2010
	The longest period for which a child has been detained by the UK Border Agency at an immigration removal centre in the last five years is 190 days. The child was detained at Yarl's Wood.
	I should stress this particular case relates to a family held in 2005 and was in part due to several failed removal attempts following the family's disruptive behaviour at the point of removal. Since then the UK Border Agency has radicalised the way in which case working of families with children is managed. We now only ever detain families where they have refused to leave the UK voluntarily and their departure has to be enforced, all legal barriers have been concluded, they have a valid travel document and a flight has been booked in a few days. It is therefore our intention that children are only ever in detention for no more than a few days.
	The longest period for which an adult has been detained by the UK Border Agency at an immigration removal centre in the last five years is not available. Information on children has been made available through the examination of individual cases, which would only be possible for adult detainees at disproportionate cost.
	National Statistics on persons (including children) held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. This information is published in tables 9-13 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom bulletins which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

DNA: Databases

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people with profiles on the National DNA Database who had no further action taken in their case have been found guilty of a separate offence  (a) since their profile was added to the database and  (b) primarily as a result of their profile being added to the database;
	(2)  how many people with a profile on the National DNA Database who were found not guilty in court have since been convicted in respect of a separate offence primarily as a result of their profile being on the database.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 4 February 2010
	The National DNA Database (NDNAD) holds information to allow DNA found at crime scenes to be matched with profiles taken from known individuals, and to pass reports of matches to the police for further investigation. The NDNAD does not hold information on the arrest history of profiled individuals, subsequent charges or details of convictions. The specific information sought is therefore not available centrally.

Drugs: Colombia

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to monitor the level of drug trafficking in Colombia.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 22 March 2010
	We work very closely with the Colombian authorities in tackling the cocaine trade. Our work involves intelligence sharing and promoting best practice amongst law enforcement partners. With our support, our Colombian partners continue to have significant success in arresting high profile traffickers, dismantling organised crime networks, and in seizing cocaine destined for the UK.

Electronic Warfare

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the likely level of resilience of critical infrastructure to the effects of an electromagnetic pulse.

David Hanson: The Government's Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, considers a number of methods of cyber attack, including those that generate high levels of radio frequency power that can damage or disrupt unprotected electronics. It also outlines the new governance structures and workstreams which are now building on existing work to take forward the Government's plan for reducing the impact on and vulnerability of the UK's interests from cyber attacks.
	The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities, companies and banks. CPNI also runs a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) service which responds to reported attacks on private sector networks. In addition, CESG provides Government Departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.
	Businesses and organisations in the critical national infrastructure are encouraged to implement appropriate protective measures and develop contingency plans to help ensure business continuity.
	It would not be in the interests of national security to publish information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic pulse attack.

Electronic Warfare

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of a  (a) natural and  (b) deliberately initiated electromagnetic pulse affecting critical infrastructure; and what systems are in place to mitigate the effects of such an event.

David Hanson: The Government's Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, considers a number of methods of cyber attack, including those that generate high levels of radio frequency power that can damage or disrupt unprotected electronics. It also outlines the new governance structures and workstreams which are now building on existing work to take forward the Government's plan for reducing the impact on and vulnerability of the UK's interests from cyber attacks.
	The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities, companies and banks. CPNI also runs a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) service which responds to reported attacks on private sector networks. In addition, CESG provides Government Departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.
	It would not be in the interests of national security to publish information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic pulse attack.

Entry Clearances: Biometrics

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many biometric enrolment centres are in operation; where they are located; how many applications they are expected to process in the next 12 months; and how many people they could each process and provide with identity cards each year if working at maximum capacity.

Alan Johnson: The Home Office has opened a total of 34 biometric enrolment offices across the UK. These are operational in the following places:
	 Enrolment offices
	Aberdeen
	Battersea
	Beckenham
	Beeston
	Belfast
	Blackburn
	Bracknell
	Brighton
	Cambridge
	Camden
	Cardiff
	Central Manchester
	Croydon
	Derby
	Durham
	Earls Court
	Elephant and Castle
	Glasgow
	Kingstanding-Birmingham
	Liverpool (2)
	London
	London City Airport
	Middleton-Manchester
	Manchester City Airport
	Old Street-London EC1
	Oxford
	Queensway-Birmingham
	Redditch
	Romsey
	Sheffield
	Solihull
	South Shields
	Stamford
	Anticipated capacity for enrolment for identity cards is 650,000 to 700,000 per annum.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications were turned away from the Islamabad high commission under the pre-sift process before the formal application had been considered in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 22 March 2010
	We ceased to operate a pre-sift procedure at our Visa Sections overseas by 2001-02. Hitherto, an entry clearance officer would carry out an initial assessment of a visa application before it was formally lodged and advise the applicant if it was unlikely to be successful. The applicant would then decide whether or not to proceed.

Identity Cards

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had  (a) applied for and  (b) been issued with identity cards by the Identity and Passport Service on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Up to and including 21 March 2010, over 8,900 people have applied for an identity card. For the same period, IPS has issued over 8,000 identity cards.

Illegal Immigrants: Car Washes

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil penalties were issued by the UK Border Agency to hand car wash operators for employing illegal workers in 2009.

Phil Woolas: A total of 126 notices of liability for a civil penalty were issued by the UK Border Agency to hand car wash operators for employing illegal workers during the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009.
	These data are derived from local management information and are not quality assured under National Statistics protocols. They should therefore be treated as provisional and subject to change.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions children detained at immigration removal centres have been held separately from their parents for a period of more than  (a) 12 and  (b) 24 hours in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2010
	There has been one occasion when a child was held separately from its parent for more than 12 hours. This was when a single parent needed to attend hospital for treatment. During this time, the child was looked after by social services professionals.
	There have been no occasions when a child was held separately from its parent for more than 24 hours.
	These data are taken from local management information for the period October 2009 to the present date. They have not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and are therefore subject to change and should be treated as provisional.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what independent checks there are on the welfare of children detained at immigration removal centres.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2010
	 The UK Border Agency takes the health and emotional wellbeing of those in its care very seriously. This is particularly true of children who are regrettably detained-with their parents-pending their removal after they refuse to leave the UK voluntarily. We introduced a new duty in November 2009 contained in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, which requires the agency to protect and promote the welfare of children. The Office of the Children's Champion, which includes professional advisers, is responsible for challenging the agency to ensure it meets its obligations, and they provide constant advice and support to those responsible for detention and escorting matters.
	Children can only be held in three immigration removal centres. Tinsley house currently holds families for 24 hours and Dungavel house for up to three days.
	Those families who will be held for longer periods are taken to Yarl's Wood, as are those families in Scotland whose flights are departing from London.
	Prior to detention, the agency conducts a formal assessment of each child to identify any particular medical; safeguarding or welfare needs in order to make the necessary arrangements to support them while in detention. On site independent social workers contribute to this initial assessment.
	Once in detention the social workers continue to make regular weekly welfare checks on each individual child throughout the entire period of detention. In addition to these regular welfare checks, the independent social workers carry out a formal welfare needs assessment between 14-21 days of detention for any child whose detention extends beyond 28 days. A copy of the completed assessment is submitted to the head of Bedford Children's Services; thereby ensuring independent oversight is maintained for the welfare assessments of children held in detention.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance is available for individuals detained at UK Border Agency immigration removal centres who are suspected to be at risk of suicide.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2010
	A comprehensive self-harm reduction strategy is in place at Immigration Removal Centres to support detainees who are deemed to be at risk of suicide or self-harm. Our procedures, called Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT), provide an holistic approach to suicide and self harm prevention within the broader context of decency, safety, and the concept of a healthy centre. It also brings existing policy in line with similar changes implemented by the Ministry of Justice.
	The ACDT process starts as soon as an individual has been identified as being at risk. It involves an initial risk assessment and assessment interview conducted by specially trained individuals. A specific care map tailored to the issues faced by the individual is produced to ensure provision of multi-disciplinary support, including input from both health care professionals and staff at the centre. The ACDT document is reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the correct support is provided while the individual is thought to be at risk.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made in respect of the  (a) personal possessions,  (b) vehicles and  (c) bank accounts of detainees following (i) detention at an immigration removal centre and (ii) deportation.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2010
	All immigration removal centres offer welfare services which are delivered by a mixture of dedicated teams and individual members of staff.
	Staff help detainees to make preparations for their departure from the United Kingdom, including providing advice about how to tie up their affairs before their departure. They cannot, however, make such arrangements such as shipping property home.
	Detainees are required to limit their property in Immigration Removal Centres to 20 kilograms as this is the restriction placed upon them by airlines.

National Bullying Helpline

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contact his Department has had with the National Bullying Helpline since 2004; and whether his Department has made any payments to  (a) the National Bullying Helpline and  (b) HR and Diversity Management Ltd. in that period.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office (excluding its agencies) has had no contact with the National Bullying Helpline; and has not made any payments  (a) the National Bullying Helpline and  (b) HR and Diversity Management Ltd. since 2004.

Powers of Entry

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which powers of entry have been subject to a liberty test since October 2007.

David Hanson: holding answer 23 March 2010
	I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 28 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 1046-48W.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports his Department has received on allegations that Mr. Raja Petra Kamarudin may be in exile in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	Our high commission in Kuala Lumpur has reported on speculation in Malaysia that Raja Petra Kamarudin may be in the United Kingdom. We are not in a position to comment on or to confirm such speculation.

Smuggling: Birds

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many birds in how many seizures were seized by HM Revenue and Customs under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year since 2000.

Phil Woolas: The following table provides data, taken from HM Revenue and Customs central records, relating to birds seized during financial years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.
	
		
			   Birds 
			   Number seized  Number of seizures 
			 2005-06 310 6 
			 2006-07 3 3 
			 2007-08 0 0 
			 2008-09 9 2 
		
	
	These seizures were made using customs enforcement powers, in relation to live animals listed as endangered species under Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97, on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora. This regulation implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), within the EU. The UK Border Agency now has responsibility for enforcement of illegal imports and exports under this regulation.
	Information on all CITES seizures made by the former HM Customs and Excise prior to 2005, is available on the DEFRA website, at the following link:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/wildlife/trade-crime/cites/action-uk.htm#enforcement

UK Border Agency

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency received in fees for applications in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The United Kingdom Border Agency and its predecessor bodies received the following sums in fees for applications in each of the last five fiscal years:
	
		
			  £000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Immigration group in-country application income 115,310 204,875 212,781 299,738 320,953 
			 International group out-country visa application income(1) 130,648 167,362 190,499 273,577 295,464 
			 (1) Visa applications income 2004-09 is shown for information only: it was not part of UKBA until the 1 April 2009.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency expects to reply to the email from the hon. Member for Aylesbury dated 4 February 2010 on medical students applying for visas at the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 22 March 2010
	The United Kingdom Border Agency responded to the hon. Member for Aylesbury on 18 March 2010.

UK Border Agency: Stress

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of working days lost by UK Border Agency staff was attributed to stress-related conditions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 15 March 2010
	8.8 per cent. of days lost to sickness absence were due to stress-related conditions for the period 1 March 2009 to 28 February 2010.

UK Border Agency: Travel

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials of each grade at the UK Border Agency are entitled to first-class travel; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Because the UK Border Agency's work is national and international in scope, it is necessary in some cases for staff to travel in order to facilitate that work. This is only undertaken when other forms of business interaction such as video or voice conferencing have been considered first. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the civil service management and ministerial codes and is approved in advance by a line manager. Over 90 per cent. of the work force of the UK Border Agency have no contractual entitlement to travel first class.
	Senior executive officer grades (and equivalent) and above are entitled to travel first class where there is an operational need for them to travel on business.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 730W, which shows that 2,223 staff were employed in those grades as at October 2009.
	Entitlement is not an indication as to the actual numbers who travelled. Information provided by the company which supplied UKBA with travel services for the period shows that, of the individuals who would have been contractually entitled to travel first class in 2009, less than 40 per cent. made use of any first class travel in 2009. The agency encourages officials to incur the lowest practicable cost.
	The UK Border Agency is focused on driving down the cost of travel expenditure. In addition the Home Office has a travel contract that enables significant savings to be achieved compared with the standard price of UK rail travel.

UK Border Agency's War Crimes Unit

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the UK Border Agency's War Crimes Unit has referred to the police in each year since 2004.

Phil Woolas: According to internal management information the UKBA War Crimes Unit has referred 51 cases to the Metropolitan police since 2005. The breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005 3 
			 2006 11 
			 2007 5 
			 2008 6 
			 2009 18 
			 2010 (to end of February) 8 
		
	
	This figure is based on local management information and is not provided under National Statistics protocols.

UK Border Agency's War Crimes Unit

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the UK Border Agency's War Crimes Unit has recommended for immigration action in each year since 2004.

Phil Woolas: According to internal management information, as of February 2010, the UKBA War Crimes Unit has recommended refusal/exclusion in 513 cases. This could be in relation to refusal of citizenship, of leave to enter/remain, or exclusion from the Refugee Convention. The breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 and 2005 47 
			 2006 54 
			 2007 105 
			 2008 144 
			 2009 143 
			 2010 (as of February) 20 
		
	
	This figure is based on local management information and is not provided under National Statistics protocols.

UK Border Agency's War Crimes Unit

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been screened by the UK Border Agency's War Crimes Unit in each year since 2004.

Phil Woolas: As of February 2010 the UKBA War Crimes Unit has completed 3,490 case files. The total breaks down as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 and 2005 448 
			 2006 326 
			 2007 600 
			 2008 797 
			 2009 1,152 
			 2010 (to end of February) 167 
		
	
	The total will include some cases that have been referred more than once. This figure is based on local management information and is not provided under National Statistics protocols.

Vetting

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to complete Criminal Records Bureau checks; what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The performance of the CRB is measured against a number of Published Service Standards (PSS) which include to issue 95 per cent. of Standard CRB checks within 10 days and 90 per cent. of Enhanced CRB checks within 28 days.
	In the last period for which figures are available, January 2010, the number of days the CRB took on average to complete an enhanced check is 29.9 days. This figure includes the data for all Enhanced applications handled by the CRB; some applications are returned to the Registered Bodies or the applicant as data is missing and this figure includes the time on average these applications are out with the customer.
	In recent months demand has significantly exceeded forecasts and as a result, some enhanced checks have taken longer to process as a result.
	The CRB have been working with their delivery partners, including the police forces, to address the problems associated with delays. The CRB have set up an improvement plan with those forces that have been having problems meeting the demand for certificates. This is aimed at maintaining a steady output of applications on the system while also reducing the number of aged cases; those which have taken longer than 25 days to process.

Work Permits: Africa

Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued for senior carers from each country in Africa in each of the last 15 years.

Phil Woolas: The work permit arrangements closed for new applications on 26 November 2008 and were replaced by the points based system.
	The number of work permits approved for countries in Africa between 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009 are shown in the table. We do not hold accurate information on any work permit applications made prior to the year 2000.
	
		
			  Nationality  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  Total 
			 Cameroon (1)- (1)- (2)- 15 75 45 30 30 10 (2)- 210 
			 Ethiopia (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 Gambia (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 5 
			 Ghana (2)- (2)- 5 60 65 50 50 25 20 5 280 
			 Kenya (1)- (1)- (2)- 5 10 15 5 5 10 (1)- 55 
			 Lesotho (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 Libya (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 Malawi (1)- (1)- (2)- (2)- 5 (2)- (2)- (1)- (2)- 5 15 
			 Mauritius (1)- (2)- 5 5 5 5 10 (2)- (2)- (1)- 30 
			 Morocco (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 Namibia (1)- (1)- (1)- 5 5 5 5 (1)- (2)- (1)- 15 
			 Nigeria (1)- (1)- 5 10 20 15 5 (2)- (2)- (1)- 55 
			 Seychelles (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- 5 
			 Sierra Leone (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 Somalia (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 South Africa (1)- 35 290 320 235 145 95 50 40 10 1,220 
			 Uganda (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (2)- (1)- (1)- (2)- 
			 Zambia (1)- (1)- 35 75 195 105 145 15 35 (1)- 605 
			 Zimbabwe (1)- (2)- 10 40 20 10 10 (2)- (2)- (1)- 95 
			 Total (2)- 40 355 540 630 390 365 135 120 20 2,595 
			 (1) Indicates zero (2) Indicates one or two  Note: Figures are rounded to nearest five 
		
	
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. The data provided are for applications where the job title includes 'Senior Care', 'Senior Healthcare' or 'Senior Health Care'. They do not include applications made under the new points-based immigration system.

Young Offenders: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 170-1W, on young offenders: sentencing, how many  (a) 12,  (b) 13,  (c) 14,  (d) 15,  (e) 16,  (f) 17,  (g) 18 and  (h) 19-year-olds who had previously been resident in a London borough and who had been convicted for non-violent crimes were given community sentences in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is provided in the table. Data for 2009 will be available when Sentencing Statistics 2009 is published later this year.
	Figures for those previously resident in a London borough are not available, as places of residence are not recorded on the court proceedings database. The table shows those sentenced in the London criminal justice areas.
	The definition of non-violent offences are all those indictable offences not included in the offence type, 'Violence Against the Person'. Summary offences have not been included as they are not categorised into violent or non-violent offences.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced to community sentences for non-violent indictable offences( 1)  by age in London criminal justice area, 2007-08 
			  Age  2007  2008 
			 12 126 78 
			 13 345 311 
			 14 780 717 
			 15 1,181 1,037 
			 16 1,437 1,311 
			 17 1,391 1,423 
			 18 578 498 
			 19 468 445 
			 (1) This includes all indictable offences not included in the Violence against the person offence type. Summary offences have not been included as they are not categorised into violent or non-violent offences.  Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe. 3. Sentences at the Crown Court are categorised according to the police force that prosecuted the offence including those sentences that may be given at a court outside the prosecuting police force's area. The statistics are presented by criminal justice area. Police force areas correspond to criminal justice areas except for the Metropolitan and City of London Police, which are combined to form the London criminal justice area. Prosecutions brought by agencies other than the police are categorised according to the criminal justice area of the sentencing court. In the case of sentences at magistrates courts, a change was made to the categorisation by area as part of the rollout of the Libra case management system in magistrates courts during 2008. Sentences given at courts using the Libra system are categorised according to the criminal justice area of the court while sentences given at courts not yet using the Libra system are categorised in the same way as at the Crown Court. By the end of 2006, all magistrates courts were using Libra. This change will have almost no impact on the categorisation by area; only around 0.01 per cent. of sentences at magistrates courts could have been affected in 2007 and 2008. Police forces do not prosecute minor offences (those that are sentenced at magistrates courts) in courts outside their areas.  Source: Justice Statistics-Analytical Services. Ministry of Justice

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Adoption

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children under the age of 16 years were  (a) put up for compulsory adoption,  (b) put in the care of foster parents and  (c) taken into local authority care in each local authority area in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 3 March 2010
	Information has been placed in the House Libraries.
	The figure for the number of children placed for adoption with a placement order will include some children whose parents have given consent for them to be placed for adoption.

Apprentices

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people of each sex have participated in apprenticeships of each type since 2000.

Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows apprenticeship starts by gender and level, for learners aged under 19 at the start of their programme. Figures are given for 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by gender and level for under 19-year-olds, 2003/04 to 2008/09 
			   Female  Male  Total 
			   Apprenticeship (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)  Total female  Apprenticeship (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)  Total male  Apprenticeship (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)  Grand total 
			 2003/04 41,400 6,600 48,000 41,600 18,600 60,200 83,000 25,200 108,300 
			 2004/05 41,700 7,000 48,600 46,000 18,900 64,900 87,600 25,900 113,500 
			 2005/06 37,200 6,600 43,800 39,900 15,800 55,700 77,100 22,400 99,500 
			 2006/07 37,500 7,500 45,000 43,300 17,400 60,600 80,800 24,800 105,600 
			 2007/08 36,700 7,500 44,200 45,300 18,100 63,400 82,000 25,500 107,600 
			 2008/09 35,400 7,800 43,200 38,800 17,400 56,200 74,200 25,200 99,400 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures are based on age at start of programme. Figures include learners aged 16-18 years old and a small number of under 16s. 3. Figures for Advanced Apprenticeships include a small number of Higher Level Apprenticeships.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2010,  Official Report, column 454W, on the Building Schools for the Future programme, how much  (a) his Department,  (b) the local authority and  (c) the school contributed to the cost of each project; and what the (i) capital, (ii) administration, (iii) consultancy, (iv) procurement, (v) ICT, (vi) design and (vii) operational cost was of each project.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 March 2010
	This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Children: Day Care

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many childcare places have been created in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of childcare places available in Essex local authority from 1997 to 2009 is shown in the following table. The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number( 1)  of childcare places( 2 ) for children under eight years of age position at 31 March each year, 1997-2009 
			   Essex 
			 1997 34,900 
			 1998 34,200 
			 1999 27,200 
			 2000 27,900 
			 2001 28,800 
			 2002 (3)- 
			 2003 32,500 
			 2004 33,800 
			 2005 34,900 
			 2006 36,600 
			 2007 36,800 
			 2008 36,100 
			 2009(4) 32,400 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. (2) 1997-2001-Data Source: Children's Daycare Facilities survey-total includes day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs, and holiday schemes. 2003-08-Data Source: Ofsted-total includes full daycare, sessional daycare, childminders, out of school clubs, and creche daycare. 2009-Data Source: Ofsted-total includes childminders, childcare on non-domestic premises, childcare on domestic premises and home child carer. (3) Data were not collected for 2002 during the transfer of responsibility to Ofsted. (4) Figures included are revised figures published by Ofsted in September 2009. Data not collected due to transfer of responsibility from LAs to Ofsted. Local authorities were responsible for the registration and inspection of children's day care facilities from 1997 to 2001. Responsibility transferred to Ofsted from 2003 and correspondingly, the categories of childcare changed from day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs and holiday schemes to full and sessional daycare, childminders, out of school clubs, and creche daycare. Therefore, data from 2003 are not directly comparable with data prior to 2002. 
		
	
	Due to changes in legislation, Ofsted have changed the way they publish statistics on registered childcare providers and places. From 1 September 2008, Ofsted started to record providers in line with new legal requirements using the categories of childminders, childcare on domestic premises, and childcare on non-domestic premises. This change means that the total numbers of providers and places (excluding childminding) shown in its returns up to and including August 2008 and from December 2008 onwards (the last under the old system, and the first under the new system) are not directly comparable.

Children: Diabetes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to schools on the care requirements of children with diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: We encourage schools to support children with long-term medical conditions such as diabetes. The DCSF and DH have issued joint guidance: 'Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings' to support schools in this regard.
	This Department is committed to revising this guidance as announced in the Child Health Strategy. We are currently updating the guidance so that it reflects the very latest advances in medical support and promotes best practice. Key stakeholders, including Diabetes UK, have provided material for the revised version.

Class Sizes: Primary Education

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average staff to pupil ratio in primary schools in England was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is published in table 17 of the Statistical First Release (SFR), 'School Workforce in England (including local authority level figures) January 2009 (Revised)', published on 29 September 2009. The SFR is available at the following web link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000874/Tables1to18v2.xls

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Diana Johnson: The Department's catering contract was developed to incorporate the principles of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative and the Department's contractor, Autograph, have a policy of supporting Fairtrade, Marine Stewardship, RSPCA Freedom Food and Red Tractor in addition to sourcing food locally wherever possible and where traceability allows.
	As a company, Autograph procure meat, fruit and vegetables nationally at just over 50 per cent. of the total available domestically allocated spend and all dairy produce is of domestic provenance.
	Autograph are committed to supporting and promoting the use of British agriculture, when in season and quality/value permit. They have recently been awarded Red Tractor Assured Food Standards accreditation for the four DCSF head office sites.
	I am unable to provide detail for each of the non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's budget for publicity and advertising was in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: The Department's spend on advertising in 2008/09 was £13,891,106, as outlined in the following table. The figures include media spend but do not include production and fees.
	
		
			  Campaign title  Spend (£) 
			 Diplomas 2,432,819 
			 STEM 1,745,192 
			 Who Do We Think We Are 2,433 
			 National Year of Reading 259,682 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 1,527,527 
			 MFL 1,719,247 
			 STEM-Sugar Magazine Advertorial 8,358 
			 Summer Holidays Affordable Childcare 202,543 
			 Guardian Education Advertorial 11,040 
			 DCSF-Early Years Foundation 23,542 
			 DCSF Media Only Campaigns 349,768 
			 14-19 Reform Campaign 941,597 
			 Diploma Employer Engagement 602,300 
			 Alcohol and Young People Campaign 1,160,103 
			 Diplomas March Campaign 1,885,861 
			 ParentLine March Campaign 41,535 
			 Frank 2008/09 977,559 
			 Total 13,891,106

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment consultants in the last 12 months.

Diana Johnson: Over the 12-month period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009, DCSF spent £115,000 (including VAT) on external recruitment consultants for appointments into the Department.
	DCSF only uses recruitment consultants when it provides value for money and for senior appointments operating under the rules of the Civil Service Commissioners.
	The recruitment consultants employed for these purposes were all drawn from the Cabinet Office and Buying Solutions Framework agreements.
	The Department has no agencies.

Faith Schools: Islam

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of children who are being educated at Muslim schools.

Diana Johnson: There are currently 11 maintained Muslim schools (six primary schools and five secondary schools), all of which have opened since 1997, out of a total of 20,099 maintained schools. We are not currently aware of any proposals for new maintained Muslim schools which have been approved to open.
	According to the January 2009 school census, there are 4,230 pupils being educated at the 11 maintained Muslim schools (1,933 at primary and 2,297 at secondary) and 16,543 pupils being educated at the 117 independent Muslim schools.

Free School Meals: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1173W, on free school meals: Leeds, how many of the 1,180 students eligible for free school meals as at January 2009 in Leeds North West constituency regularly received school meals during that period.

Diana Johnson: Information on how regularly pupils take school meals is not available. The available information on the numbers of children taking free school meals on the day of the census is shown in the table, together with the numbers of children known to be eligible for free school meals.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary( 1)  and state-funded secondary( 1, 2 ) schools: School meal arrangements, as at January 2009, Leeds, North-West constituency 
			   Number of pupils( 3)  Number of pupils eligible for free school meals( 3, 4)  Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 5)  Percentage taking free school meals 
			 Nursery and primary schools(1) 4,620 520 11.3 440 9.5 
			 State funded secondary schools(1, 2) 5,200 660 12.7 440 8.5 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. Also includes post-16 pupils. (4) Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim. (5) Number of pupils taking school meals on the day of the census.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census.

GCSE

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils from National Challenge schools who achieved at least five grades A* to C at GCSE achieved one or more such grade in business studies, music technology, child development, hairdressing, construction, health and social care, sociology, media, travel and tourism, performing arts and hospitality and catering in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: To answer this would go over the disproportionate cost threshold.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; how much it has spent on such payments in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was made in respect of the Government Car Service.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was created as a result of the machinery of government changes in June 2007. Prior to June 2007, it was Department for Education and Skills (DfES). A service level agreement between DSCF and Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) started in May 2006 and the spend figures from that date are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend (£) 
			 April 2009 to January 2010 158,936 
			 2008-09 74,104 
			 2007-08 146,092 
			 2006-07 51,563 
		
	
	The spend figure for 2007-08 shows a larger spend because this included payments made by DCSF on behalf of DCSF, Jobcentre Plus and DWP. The spend figure for the current financial year includes an additional service made for a mail service. Payments from 2006 to May 2009 relate solely to the Government Car Service (GCS). From June 2009, 48 per cent. of the spend relates to GCS.
	Costs to Departments of ministerial cars are reported annually to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial statement and are available in the Libraries of the House.

Learning Disability

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment has been made of the level of support and resources specialist institutions will require for administering the provision of learning for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Iain Wright: holding answer 22 March 2010
	The budget for placements including support and resources secured for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities at independent specialist providers was £237 million in 2009-10 and this has increased by 12.7 per cent. in 2010 -11 to £267 million.
	Local authorities will work closely with the specialist institutions and the Young People's Learning Agency to ensure that learners receive the provision and support needed to meet individual need and that this represents value for money.

Primary Education: Standards

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools were found not to have been registered with Ofsted in each of the last three years.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 22 March 2010
	Ofsted does not register schools other than Early Years settings. Independent schools must register with this Department. While the Department is sometimes notified of independent schools operating without registration and also holds information about registration applications currently being processed, our records do not contain age ranges. The Department does not hold historic information about unregistered schools in a single place, and extracting this information from paper files could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Pupils: Clothing

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of schoolchildren who regularly wear the kirpan on school premises;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on the wearing of the kirpan by schoolchildren.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 22 February 2010
	The Department has made no estimate of the number of children who regularly wear the kirpan on school premises; this information is not collected by schools. We have received representations concerning a case involving a Barnet school last year; it is for individual governing bodies to make their own policies on the carrying of the kirpan, taking account of pupil safety and religious practice. Because of concerns arising from this case, we are currently discussing issues around the wearing of the kirpan with other interested Government Departments, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Sikh community, with a view to issuing guidance in due course.

School Catchment Areas

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Schools Adjudicator has issued to local education authorities on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to make checks that parents live in their declared school catchment areas; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Neither the Department nor the Schools Adjudicator has issued any guidance on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The use of these powers is the responsibility of local authorities and we expect them to be used proportionately.

Schools: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools there were in the London Borough of Bexley in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009.

Diana Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of maintained primary( 1)  and state funded secondary schools( 1,2) , 1997 and 2009-Coverage: Bexley 
			   1997  2009 
			 Primary 64 58 
			 Secondary 16 16 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies.  Source: School Census

Teachers TV: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the budget of Teachers TV was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: In the 10-month period from 1 June 2008 to 31 March 2009 the Department allocated a budget to the Teachers TV contract of £10,194,616.
	In the coming financial year Teachers TV will stop broadcasting as a TV channel and become an on-demand only service. This will release savings to the Department of £1,000,000 a year.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on proposals to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Northern Ireland in 2012.

Paul Goggins: Planning for the Diamond Jubilee is still at an early stage. I expect my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to have discussions with my noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in due course.

Saville Inquiry

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the final report from the Saville inquiry to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan).

Security Situation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton), and for Congleton (Ann Winterton) and the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay).

Press and Communications Officers

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on employing press and communications officers in his Department in the financial year 2008-09.

Paul Goggins: The Department spent £579,343 on press officers during 2008-09.

Dissident Paramilitaries

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to counter the threat from dissident paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The threat from dissident paramilitaries in Northern Ireland is of significant concern. Law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border are committed to combating dissident activity. We have ensured that the Chief Constable has access to additional resources both in this and the next financial year to meet the dissident threat.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Paul Goggins: No. Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff of each grade in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: In the financial year 2008-09, the Department (including the Compensation Agency) spent £62,898 on first class travel by Ministers and £19,449 on first class travel by staff.
	Information relating to the grades of staff travelling first class is not recorded centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code. All travel by civil servants in the Department and its agencies is undertaken in accordance with departmental policy.
	In 2008-09, the Youth Justice Agency spent £65 on first class travel by staff at Grade A; the Northern Ireland Prison Service spent £134 on first class travel by staff in the SCS, and £517 by staff at Grade B1. Forensic Science Northern Ireland did not spend any money on first class travel.
	These figures do not include the cost of first class travel paid for by individual members of staff and then reclaimed from the Department. This additional information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Prison Sentences

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have received an indeterminate sentence for public protection in each month since the introduction of such sentences.

Paul Goggins: Indeterminate custodial sentences are available for serious sexual or violent offences committed on or after 15 May 2008, where the court determines that the offender is dangerous and that an extended custodial sentence would not be adequate to protect the public from serious harm.
	No indeterminate custodial sentences have been imposed so far.

Weapons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received on Loyalist decommissioning; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: I have received no recent representations about Loyalist decommissioning, but welcome the confirmation from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in its September and February reports that it has overseen the decommissioning of all arms under the control of the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando, the Ulster Defence Association, the South East Antrim UDA and the Shoukri paramilitary element.
	I pay tribute to the tireless work of the IICD over the last 12 years in securing this progress.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much freight has been transported by water to the main Olympic site to date.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is committed to transporting 50 per cent. of materials to the Park, by weight, using sustainable methods, i.e. rail or water. The ODA is currently exceeding this target with almost 64 per cent. of material transported to the Park by sustainable methods.
	Examples of deliveries to site include pile cages to the Aquatics Centre and pipes to the Olympic Stadium. Since October 2009, there has been one barge leaving the site each week removing waste and it is anticipated that this will increase to three barge movements per week as fit-out work on the venues increases.
	The ODA continues to actively encourage its contractors to explore the use of the waterways to transport materials to the Park.

CABINET OFFICE

10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 1951W, on Government departments: buildings, what refurbishment works were undertaken across 70 Whitehall, Downing street and the Cabinet Office complex in the last 24 months.

Angela Smith: In relation to refurbishment works at Downing street I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 25 February 2010,  Official Report, column 695W.
	Refurbishment work at 70 Whitehall over the past 24 months has focused primarily on accessibility, sustainability and infrastructure improvements (including installing modernised IT and telecommunications infrastructure). The work has also involved upgrading the building fabric (including installation of additional insulation to external walls and roofs). In addition, cellular office space in the less historically sensitive parts of 70 Whitehall has been replaced as part of the refurbishment work to provide modernised open plan space, contributing to increasing capacity and efficiency.

Census

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 792W, on the Census, 
	(1)  after what time on Census night a guest will be deemed to be an overnight visitor;
	(2)  what imputation will be made in relation to overnight visitor data; and whether she has made an estimate of non-compliance with requirements relating to overnight visitors.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 792W, on the Census, after what time on Census night a guest will be deemed to be an overnight visitor. (322880); and pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 792W, on the Census, what imputation will be made in relation to overnight visitor data; and whether she has made an estimate of non-compliance with requirements relating to overnight visitors. (322909)
	The Census (England and Wales) Order 2009 sets out the legal responsibilities for who must be included in a census return. Guidance printed on the questionnaires directs householders to include anyone who is not a usual resident and who is staying over night to be recorded as a visitor, it is left up to respondents to interpret what staying over night means in relation to their home, as this is a well recognised concept.
	Recording information from visitors who are staying overnight at an address where they do not usually live will help to provide an accurate population count. Together with the new questions on second addresses this will avoid us undercounting or overcounting people, and help us to produce the most accurate figure of the population living in local areas.
	ONS is only planning to impute data relating to over night visitors where a visitor has been recorded on a census questionnaire, but where there are missing data items. No estimate has been made of non-compliance with the requirement relating to overnight visitors.

Civil Servants: Pay

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 25 February 2010,  Official Report, column 698W, on civil servants: pay, what the  (a) job title,  (b) department and  (c) salary range was of each of the 43 jobs; and which of those jobs was advertised on the public part of the website.

Angela Smith: Tables detailing job titles, Departments and salary ranges will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Cabinet Office is responsible for setting the referral point for each pay band in the senior civil service. For pay band 2 posts, this is £120,000 and for pay band 3, £140,000. Departments wanting to pay beyond these referral points must first obtain approval from the Cabinet Office. Where Departments wish to pay more than £150,000 they must obtain approval from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 25 February 2010,  Official Report, column 697W, on civil servants: pay, for what reasons the 32 jobs were advertised only on the internal part of the site.

Angela Smith: Departments and Executive agencies have delegated responsibility for recruitment, including the advertising of vacancies for all posts below director general level (top 200). The decision to advertise posts on the internal or external part of the civil service jobs site is determined by the recruiting Department or agency.
	The Senior Leadership Committee advises the Cabinet Secretary on the mode of recruitment for top 200 posts.

Departmental Location

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2010,  Official Report, column 966W, on civil servants: location, what her Department's policy is on the outsourcing of work and jobs  (a) overseas and  (b) outside the European Economic Area.

Angela Smith: Within the Cabinet Office, none of our work is currently delivered through outsourced contracts to firms overseas, including those outside the European economic area.

Government Departments: Aviation

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which company was awarded the VIP air support contract for the Cabinet Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office with Prior Information Notice 2008/S 200-265590; on what date that contract notice was dispatched; what estimate she has made of the monetary value of that contract; and for what period that contract has been let.

Angela Smith: The company awarded the contract is listed in the journal of the European Union, under reference (09/S 242-345855/EN). The award notice was issued on 14 December 2009, and is for a period of two years.
	The costs for travel are listed in the annual report and accounts for the respective Departments.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target waiting time is for children up to the age of 16 to be seen within when attending accident and emergency departments  (a) on average in England and  (b) at Northwick Park Hospital.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has set a national standard that all patients should not wait more than four hours in accident and emergency (A and E) departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. A 98 per cent, minimum operating figure allows for the minority of patients who clinically need more than four hours in A and E. Trusts are able to set a more challenging waiting time target should they wish to do so.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for children aged up to the age of 16 years to be seen when they arrive at an accident and emergency department  (a) in Leicester,  (b) in the East Midlands,  (c) in England and  (d) at Northwick Park hospital.

Mike O'Brien: Information is not collected separately for Northwick Park hospital. However, information is available for North West London NHS Trust, which is the main health region containing Northwick Park hospital.
	The following table sets out the mean time spent between arrival and departure in all types of accident and emergency (A and E) departments for England, Leicester City primary care trust, East Midlands strategic health authority and North West London NHS Trust in 2008-09, for patients aged 16 years or under.
	
		
			  Average duration to departure from A and E in minutes, for patients aged 16 or under, 2008-09 
			   Average duration to departure 
			 Leicester City PCT 120.8 
			 North West London NHS Trust 119.7 
			 East Midland SHA 100.5 
			 England 110.6 
			  Source: Experimental A and E Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Arthritis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he  (a) is taking and  (b) plans to take to provide nurses in primary care settings with training to (i) identify, (ii) diagnose and (iii) assess the care requirements of patients with rheumatoid arthritis; what recent representations he has received on those matters; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Training for nurses in primary care is quite rightly the responsibility of employers. It is they who are best placed to understand local services and the training needs of their staff.

Arthritis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished episodes of care there were for patients with rheumatoid arthritis of each  (a) sex and  (b) age group resident in Southend in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The following tables show the number of finished consultant episodes with a mention of rheumatoid arthritis, by sex, age group and primary care trust (PCT) of residence.
	The NHS Information Centre (IC) are unable to provide data for 2008-09 due to data quality issues with the data submitted whereby it cannot be determined which patients were resident in this area during this period.
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with mention of rheumatoid arthritis by sex, age group and South East Essex PCT of residence, 2006-07 to 2007-08 
			  Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			   0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  - 
			 2007-08 48 170 114 160 112 241 240 343 1,428 
			 2006-07 38 124 111 95 91 206 177 281 1,123 
		
	
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with a mention of rheumatoid arthritis  by sex, age group and Southend- on -S ea PCT of residence, 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			  Activity in English NHS  h ospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			   0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  - 
			 2005-06 24 51 53 46 27 78 70 163 512 
			 2004-05 6 30 39 34 28 84 82 156 459 
			 2003-04 * 38 * 25 24 98j 48 90 345 
			 2002-03 * 15 9 0 * 22 10 11 76 
			 2001-02 * * 8 * * 9 7 9 47 
			 2000-01 * 7 10 * * 9 6 8 49 
			 1999-2000 * 8 * 6 * 12 6 7 53 
			 1998-99 * 16 21 11 * 24 28 48 157 
			 1997-98 * 22 25 25 * 54 68 65 275 
		
	
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with a mention of rheumatoid arthritis by sex, age group and Castle Point and Rochford PCT of residence, 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			  Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			   0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  - 
			 2005-06 16 50 69 78 23 103 73 144 556 
			 2004-05 16 54 39 43 20 107 99j 119 497 
			 2003-04 20 49 36 62 32 93 74 105 471 
			 2002-03 10 15 10 * * 18 7 7 69 
			 2001-02 12 13 19 0 6 27 12 8 97 
			 2000-01 * 17 15 10 * 25 6 7 87 
			 1999-2000 * 7 * * * 26 11 * 59 
			 1998-99 * 16 15 * * 31 22 15 110 
			 1997-98 8 24 23 15 15 52 60 39 236 
			  Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. 2. The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. 3. Data provided are for Southend-on-Sea PCT of residence (the PCT containing the patient's normal home address). This identifies patients who resided within Southend-on-Sea and were in hospital with a primary and/or secondary diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. These patients may not have been treated in Southend-on-Sea. 4. From 1 October 2006, Southend-on-Sea PCT merged with Castle Point and Rochford PCT to create South East Essex PCT. 5. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so are no longer included in admitted patient HES data. 6. To protect patient confidentiality, figures between one and five have been replaced with * (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify numbers from the total an additional number (the next smallest) has been replaced.   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Arthritis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collect information on the number of newly diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis; what recent representations he has received on the number of people with rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department currently has no plans to collect information on the number of newly diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
	There are various estimates of the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis. These estimates suggest prevalence ranging between 400,000 and 580,000, and incidence between 12,000 and 26,000. For example, the National Audit Office report 'Services for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis' estimates that 580,000 adults have rheumatoid arthritis, with approximately 26,000 new diagnoses each year. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidance on the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults, published in February 2009, estimates prevalence of 400,000 and annual incidence of 12,000.
	The variation in estimates reflect the different data sources used to calculate incidence and prevalence.

Arthritis

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that GPs receive  (a) pre-registration training and  (b) continuing professional development training in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will take steps to encourage the Royal College of General Practitioners to offer additional support to GPs on the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Mike O'Brien: We recognise the importance of training in rheumatoid arthritis. The Government do not specify the content of the general practitioners (GPs) training curriculum. This is developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Responsibility for approval of the curriculum reset with the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB), which is the competent authority for postgraduate medical training in the United Kingdom. PMETB is an independent professional body.
	From 1 April 2010, the content of postgraduate medical training will be the responsibility of the General Medical Council following a merge of the two organisations.
	Post-registration training needs of GPs are determined by regulatory requirements and local national health service priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.

Arthritis

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the oral evidence given to the Public Accounts Committee by the Chief Executive of the NHS on 23 November 2009, what progress his Department is making in establishing whether there is a correlation between the amount spent per head of population on rheumatoid arthritis services and the quality of the provision of such services.

Mike O'Brien: The Department is considering the findings and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its report Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The Department will respond formally to the recommendations made by the Committee in the form of a Treasury minute in due course.

Arthritis

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by each primary care trust on rheumatoid arthritis services per head of population in each of the last two years.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available. Estimated expenditure data on musculoskeletal system problems, which includes rheumatoid arthritis, are available and have been placed in the Library.

Cancer: Drugs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010,  Official Report, column 765WA, on cancer drugs, which of the patient access schemes considered by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence  (a) were and  (b) were not implemented.

Mike O'Brien: Where a patient access scheme is proposed by a manufacturer, and approved by the Department, in the context of a National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal, it must be available for local implementation when NICE recommends, or partially recommends, the use of the drug in question.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to assist specialist services for  (a) myalgic encephalomyelitis and encephalopathy and  (b) chronic fatigue syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Government made available £8.5 million funding for two years in 2004-05 and 2005-06 to set establish specialist centres and local multi-disciplinary teams to support the development of specialist chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) services and improve clinical care. Funding has now been added to primary care trust baseline allocations.
	It is the responsibility of local health bodies, which have a comprehensive knowledge of their local populations, to commission services for people with CFS/ME, taking into account the resources they have available, the needs of their wider population, and available guidance on best practice.

Community Care: Mentally Ill

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor the effectiveness of care in the community for mentally ill patients in  (a) Leeds and  (b) West Yorkshire.

Phil Hope: From April the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will begin to operate a new registration system for providers of health and adult social care services, including mental health trusts and primary care trusts which provide community mental health services. In order to be registered, organisations will be required to meet essential levels of safety and quality. It will be illegal to provide a regulated activity without being registered by the Commission.
	The CQC has also just published a positioning statement and action plan for mental heath care, outlining what it will do between 2010 and 2015 to ensure that mental health services reach not only basic standards of quality and safety, but also that they improve. The CQC has committed to ensuring that its mental health action plan is in line with the Government's New Horizons vision, and also takes account of other key national policy, guidance and findings.

Dementia

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget his Department has set for the Living Well campaign for dementia; and how much it has spent on  (a) television,  (b) radio,  (c) print and  (d) online advertising in respect of the campaign to date.

Phil Hope: The overall advertising budget set for the dementia awareness campaign in 2009-10 was £1,587,106.
	The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Advertising type  £ 
			 Television 866,025 
			 Radio 242,812 
			 Print 393,247 
			 Online 85,022 
			  Source: Central Office of Information

Departmental Mass Media

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what keywords his Department is monitoring in the media; when each of those keywords began to be monitored; and what keywords have  (a) been monitored and  (b) ceased to be monitored since June 2009.

Phil Hope: The Department's Media Centre has employed Precise Media (previously known as EDS Media) to provide daily cuttings from the national press since July 2007. The keywords that are used to compile the cuttings are revised on a regular basis to reflect changes in departmental policy and in the ministerial team.
	The list of keywords has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Phil Hope: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

Departmental Responsibilities

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to share services, functions and back offices with local authorities as part of the Total Place initiative.

Phil Hope: The Government's report on Total Place will be published alongside Budget 2010.

Diabetes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children in each age group who were diagnosed with diabetes in  (a) Southend,  (b) each borough in Essex,  (c) each borough in Kent,  (d) the Metropolitan police area of London and  (e) England in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The data requested are not collected in the requested format. However, 'Growing Up with Diabetes: Children and Young People with Diabetes in England' reported that in February 2009 there were 22,947 people aged 0 to 17 years in England with diabetes and 2,052 people aged between 0 to 17 years in the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) with diabetes.
	The following table shows all types of diabetes by age in the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA).
	
		
			  Total types of diabetes 
			   Age (year s ) 
			  SHA  0-4  5-9  10-14  15  16  17  Total  0-17 population 
			 East of England 81 383 866 250 238 234 2,052 1,226,621 
			 London 151 497 1039 266 266 233 2,452 1,627,757 
			 South East Coast 97 446 1103 267 353 233 2,499 924,546 
		
	
	The survey did not collect data on people aged 18 and over and data are only available by SHA.

Diabetes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females in each age group were diagnosed with diabetes in (i) Southend, (ii) each borough in Essex, (iii) each borough in Kent, (iv) the Metropolitan police area of London and (v) England in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: Data are not collected in the format requested. Data from the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF) about the number of people recorded on diabetes registers are available for NHS organisations. However, it is not possible to separate the data by gender or by age.
	Table 1 presents data for Southend PCT for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06 but in October 2006 this PCT was abolished and became part of South East Essex.
	
		
			  Table 1-Southend PCT 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 5,193 
			 2005-06 5,786 
		
	
	Table 2 presents data for the current PCTs in Essex with figures for years in which there was a different structure summed to the current structure.
	
		
			  Table 2-PCTs in Essex 
			   Mid Essex  North East Essex  South East Essex( 1)  South West Essex  West Essex  Total 
			 2004-05 11,007 10,542 10,439 12,390 8,729 53,107 
			 2005-06 11,932 11,537 11,549 13,797 9,295 58,110 
			 2006-07 12,405 12,433 12,499 14,298 9,713 61,348 
			 2007-08 12,926 13,117 13,678 15,543 10,284 65,548 
			 2008-09 14,041 13,948 14,574 16,530 11,051 70,144 
			 (1) PCT figures includes figures for Southend PCT from previous table. 
		
	
	Table 3 shows data for the current PCTs in Kent with figures for years in which there was a different structure summed to the current structure.
	
		
			  Table 3-PCTs in Kent 
			   Medway  Eastern and Coastal Kent  West Kent  Total 
			 2004-05 8,919 26,133 21,040 56,092 
			 2005-06 9,667 27,821 22,139 59,627 
			 2006-07 10,377 28,913 23,082 62,372 
			 2007-08 11,562 31,182 24,666 67,410 
			 2008-09 12,583 33,374 26,145 72,102 
		
	
	Table 4 provides data for the London strategic health authority with figures for previous structures summed to the current area.
	
		
			  Table 4-London 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 278,527 
			 2005-06 295,877 
			 2006-07 300,567 
			 2007-08 320,577 
			 2008-09 337,561 
		
	
	Table 5 provides data for England.
	
		
			  Table 5-England 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 1,766,391 
			 2005-06 1,890,663 
			 2006-07 1,961,976 
			 2007-08 2,088,335 
			 2008-09 2,213,138

Diabetes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the number of people with diabetes who were hospitalised as a result of  (a) eating and  (b) drinking products labelled sugar-free which included sucrose or other sugar products in the last 12 months; whether he has had recent discussions with food manufacturers on the accuracy of information on the sugar content of foods; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Data are not available from either Hospital Episode Statistics or the National Diabetes Audit to identify people hospitalised as a result of eating or drinking products labelled sugar-free which included sucrose or other sugar products.
	Officials at the Food Standards Agency have advised that they have not had recent discussions with food manufacturers about the accuracy of the sugar content of foods.
	Under the European Union Regulation EC/1924/2006, a claim that a food is sugar-free may only be made where the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. It is the responsibility of local authorities to enforce the EU regulations.

Health Services

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on  (a) designating in-house bodies as preferred providers for the management of community services and  (b) permitting care trusts to manage community services directly; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department's guidance on the assurance and approvals process for primary care trust (PCT)-provided community services (published 5 February 2010) sets out the policy on direct provision. It said that PCTs should principally be commissioning organisations. Circumstances may make it appropriate for some PCTs to continue the direct provision of services, but this will not be the norm. Continued direct provision should not detract from the PCT's core role of commissioning, which should be of the highest standard.
	The guidance also makes clear that in relation to care trusts, the continued management of community services is permissible where it meets the national tests as set out in the guidance.
	The assurance and approvals process for PCT-provided community services has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/index.htm

Health Services: Training

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the first higher education courses in healthcare science will begin; and what guidance his Department has provided to universities on the content of such courses.

Gillian Merron: These commenced last year with a masters in clinical science (genetics) at the university of Nottingham.
	Further courses will commence in September 2010 in some institutions and these have been given indicative curricula.

Home Care Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the comments of the Care Services Minister of 28 March 2010 in  The Times newspaper, what representations he received from care charities in support of the Personal Care at Home Bill.

Phil Hope: I was referring, in my comments of 18 March 2010, to an open letter in support of the Personal Care at Home Bill, sent on 16 March to the media and to hon. Members and noble Lords and signed by the heads of seven charities. These included Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Help the Aged/Age Concern, RADAR, the WRVS, Contact a Family and Grandparents Plus.

Home Care Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010,  Official Report, column 773W, on home care services: finances, how many people in England receive  (a) free and  (b) partially funded home care; and how much was spent on providing that care in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects information from councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) on numbers receiving and expenditure on social care services via the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) and the Personal Social Services Expenditure (PSS Ex1) returns.
	However, RAP and PSS Ex1 data do not differentiate between service users whose care is fully funded by CASSRs and those whose care is partially funded.
	During the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008-the latest available data-577,000 adults aged 18 and over in England received home care, funded either partly or wholly by their CASSR, following a community care assessment. £2.7 billion was spent by CASSRs in 2007-08 on providing home care.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Consultants

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has paid to  (a) Media Strategy and  (b) Hanover Communications in the last two years.

Gillian Merron: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it paid Hanover Communications (formerly Media Strategy) £29,322.13 between March and May 2008. No further payments were made after May 2008.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department to publish guidance to primary care trusts on the use of local tenders and product formularies for products and services covered by Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Mike O'Brien: The Department is currently seeking legal advice on this issue. Subject to receiving these instructions, guidance will be prepared and published later this year.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whom his Department has consulted in its recent discussions on the use of tenders and formularies for products and services covered by Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Mike O'Brien: Officials in the Department met representatives of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) on 11 February 2010. The meeting took place following a series of concerns raised directly with the Department by the BHTA about the activities of primary care trusts and Collaborative Procurement Hubs seeking to tender in Part IX areas. In particular, the BHTA had raised concerns over the legality of such activity under the terms of Part IX of the drug tariff.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Part IX Guidance and Assurance Framework for the Drug Tariff arrangements to enter into force on 1 April 2010.

Mike O'Brien: The Part IX Guidance and Assurance Framework for the arrangements coming into force on 1 April 2010 are currently being finalised with the aim of publishing them in the next few weeks. Contractors have a transition period of nine months before they have to comply with the new regulations.

Infectious Diseases

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases there were of  (a) mumps,  (b) scarlet fever,  (c) tuberculosis,  (d) typhoid,  (e) measles and  (f) rubella in (i) England and (ii) each London borough in each year from 2000 to 2009.

Gillian Merron: The following data have been provided by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
	
		
			  Laboratory confirmed cases of mumps: England and HPA London regions: 2000 - 09 
			   England  London 
			 2000 730 22 
			 2001 784 66 
			 2002 500 19 
			 2003 1,541 64 
			 2004 8,129 292 
			 2005 43,378 3,650 
			 2006 4,420 659 
			 2007 1,476 125 
			 2008 2,403 446 
			 2009 (provisional data) 7,628 895 
		
	
	Data are not available for individual London boroughs.
	
		
			  Scarlet fever notifications by London local authority (LA) and England: 2000 - 09 
			  LA  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 2 23 
			 Barnet 12 6 6 8 5 3 9 4 20 59 
			 Bexley 11 7 17 8 13 6 4 6 7 14 
			 Brent 9 10 4 8 9 2 1 2 3 6 
			 Bromley 25 15 16 19 18 9 44 12 14 47 
			 Camden 6 2 3 15 15 0 4 6 10 30 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 15 13 24 18 38 20 33 18 20 20 
			 Ealing 22 13 25 12 18 4 15 11 6 16 
			 Enfield 3 6 4 10 6 1 7 6 68 43 
			 Greenwich 1 4 4 3 5 4 5 6 7 16 
			 Hackney 6 20 2 4 8 12 13 5 31 49 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 3 1 6 9 0 5 12 6 12 
			 Haringey 4 2 3 3 1 0 4 5 23 51 
			 Harrow 6 6 3 6 9 8 5 6 4 21 
			 Havering 8j 5 3 9 4 9 10 9 17 38 
			 Hillingdon 1 1 5 3 0 3 2 5 5 6 
			 Hounslow 5 3 3 5 4 6 9 4 10 20 
			 Islington 13 11 16 20 21 8 8 2 20 22 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 4 8 6 7 0 6 12 4 8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1 1 4 3 7 0 3 12 7 9 
			 Lambeth 8 11 23 12 12 7 8 13 22 37 
			 Lewisham 13 14 21 10 15 9 13 15 17 67 
			 Merton 4 15 13 11 21 4 16 16 13 23 
			 Newham 4 3 7 5 2 5 4 5 23 37 
			 Redbridge 6 3 6 11 6 5 5 5 20 56 
			 Richmond upon Thames 13 7 8 12 19 9 2 7 17 42 
			 Southwark 7 5 18 11 25 12 17 9 39 49 
			 Sutton 5 9 8 14 7 2 4 13 5 7 
			 Tower Hamlets 11 21 24 18 15 14 19 9 20 42 
			 Waltham Forest 9 7 6 9 9 8 7 6 9 22 
			 Wandsworth 9 5 3 4 22 20 25 12 19 39 
			 Westminster, City of 15 18 25 16 10 8 8 9 11 24 
			 London total 257 250 313 299 361 198 318 263 499 955 
			 England total 1,897 1,698 2,080 2,488 2,121 1,601 2,084 1,876 2,847 4,066 
			 (1) Provisional 
		
	
	
		
			  Tuberculosis case reports by London local authority and England: 2000 - 09 
			  LA  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009( 1)  Total 2000-09 
			 Barking and Dagenham 38 29 35 42 43 59 50 62 70 75 503 
			 Barnet 86 76 101 102 94 114 124 104 115 107 1,023 
			 Bexley 13 15 21 25 29 22 19 28 22 19 213 
			 Brent 220 229 206 217 232 283 241 274 304 303 2,509 
			 Bromley 23 17 25 31 28 29 41 36 20 32 282 
			 Camden 64 89 116 106 77 104 95 89 87 100 927 
			 City of London 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 21 
			 Croydon 96 96 108 113 119 113 103 115 111 124 1,098 
			 Ealing 213 187 197 187 254 237 234 245 194 226 2,174 
			 Enfield 80 93 80 97 95 103 99 73 101 117 938 
			 Greenwich 49 68 72 72 88 87 98 105 138 124 901 
			 Hackney 130 124 143 155 155 132 134 143 124 115 1,355 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 84 67 81 64 69 89 81 69 69 73 746 
			 Haringey 134 150 140 127 149 130 155 92 106 131 1,314 
			 Harrow 92 96 114 115 99 131 125 122 127 137 1,158 
			 Havering 29 16 19 13 12 29 23 16 20 30 207 
			 Hillingdon 72 89 95 116 117 137 125 124 153 125 1,153 
			 Hounslow 82 122 120 98 117 166 138 137 133 179 1,292 
			 Islington 87 84 106 94 88 82 99 93 93 93 919 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 46 41 31 51 48 46 53 32 52 50 450 
			 Kingston upon Thames 11 16 18 19 22 27 26 28 29 31 227 
			 Lambeth 107 130 158 155 126 142 137 105 131 118 1,309 
			 Lewisham 62 71 91 79 77 98 84 101 82 77 822 
			 Merton 43 32 54 40 62 61 66 58 64 62 542 
			 Newham 244 208 214 245 241 258 265 275 283 316 2,549 
			 Redbridge 89 89 92 110 110 118 144 138 161 150 1,201 
			 Richmond upon Thames 9 11 15 12 12 19 20 13 13 21 145 
			 Southwark 84 98 106 100 131 139 128 109 116 97 1,108 
			 Sutton 11 18 30 30 23 24 27 31 18 32 244 
			 Tower Hamlets 88 64 122 147 117 128 137 154 131 144 1,232 
			 Waltham Forest 91 68 104 99 99 115 122 91 129 98 1,016 
			 Wandsworth 63 50 94 96 94 124 82 117 109 82 911 
			 Westminster , City of 89 78 75 89 85 97 85 86 70 82 836 
			 Total London(2) 2,635 2,629 2,986 3,054 3,114 3,447 3,362 3,267 3,376 3,476 31,346 
			 Total England 6,075 6,296 6,669 6,691 7,011 7,763 7,828 7,736 7,970 8,423 72,462 
			 (1) Provisional (2) Total includes cases of unknown local authority  Note: Numbers of cases 5 are suppressed to avoid deductive disclosure. 
		
	
	
		
			  Laboratory confirmed cases of Typhoidal Salmonella (Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi): England and HPA London region: 2000 - 09 
			   England  London 
			 2000 329 134 
			 2001 422 146 
			 2002 306 106 
			 2003 403 163 
			 2004 433 176 
			 2005 466 175 
			 2006 539 209 
			 2007 518 207 
			 2008 568 220 
			 2009 (provisional data) 475 192 
		
	
	Data are not available for individual London boroughs.
	
		
			  Laboratory confirmed cases of measles: England and HPA London region: 2000 - 09 
			   England  London 
			 2000 100 50 
			 2001 70 25 
			 2002 308 197 
			 2003 438 169 
			 2004 191 55- 
			 2005 77 33 
			 2006 740 274 
			 2007 990 440 
			 2008 1,370 664 
			 2009 (provisional data) 1,144 198 
		
	
	Data are not available for individual London boroughs.
	
		
			  Laboratory confirmed cases of rubella: England and HPA London region: 2000 to 2009 
			   England  London 
			 2000 60 11 
			 2001 45 15 
			 2002 64 21 
			 2003 16 4 
			 2004 14 6 
			 2005 29 7 
			 2006 34 19 
			 2007 35 16 
			 2008 27 9 
			 2009 (provisional data) 8 2 
		
	
	Data are not available for individual London boroughs.

Medical Records: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2010,  Official Report, column 641W, on medical records: children, how many parents have obtained opt-outs through their general practitioners in respect of their children's summary care records.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not held centrally, but at individual general practitioner practices. The earlier reply was based on anonymised information obtained by the Department from a small sample of practices at the request of the independent, statutory National Information Governance Board.

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is  (a) taking and  (b) plans to take during the next six months to recruit midwives to the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Our plan is to have 4,000 more midwives by 2012 (based on 2006 baseline), subject to the birth rate continuing to rise. Each strategic health authority has made recruitment, retention and return plans.

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training places were available for midwifery in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: We do not hold data centrally on the number of available midwifery training places.
	The following table shows the number of midwifery training commissions for the years requested.
	
		
			   Degree  Diploma  Other  Total 
			 1996-97 161 498 993 1,652 
			 1997-98 224 572 908 1,704 
			 1998-99 255 597 899 1,751 
			 1999-2000 395 620 757 1,772 
			 2000-01 494 604 789 1,887 
			 2001-02 621 525 732 1,878 
			 2002-03 709 724 677 2,110 
			 2003-04 753 716 757 2,226 
			 2004-05 895 744 735 2,374 
			 2005-06 1,042 517 661 2,220 
			 2006-07 983 540 467 1,990 
			 2007-08 1,307 412 352 2,071 
			 2008-09 1,944 0 328 2,272

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives left the national health service in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: This information is not collected centrally.

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary of an NHS midwife is; and what it was in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The average salary of a national health service midwife is £37,200 (2009) and was £36,100 in 2008. Prior to 2008, the average salary for a NHS midwife was not collected separately but included with qualified nurses (see following table).
	
		
			  Qualified nurse 
			   Average salary (£) 
			 1997-98 20,830 
			 1998-99 21,042 
			 1999-00 22,329 
			 2000-01 23,427 
			 2001-02 24,733 
			 2002-03 25,702 
			 2003-04 26,342 
			 2004-05 27,697 
			 2005-06 28,784 
			 2006-07 29,861 
			 2007-08 31,149 
			 2008-09 32,339 
			  Notes: 1. Average salaries are estimated from the Qualified Nurse Paybill figures using NHS Accounts data together with the NHS pension scheme rates, and national insurance rates and thresholds that apply to NHS employers. 2. The Paybill data include all qualified nurses employed by NHS trusts, primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and foundation trusts in England. They exclude agency nurses. 3. Foundation trusts do not submit a breakdown of their Paybill by staff group. Figures from 2004-05 onwards include estimates for the breakdown of each foundation trust. 4. Average salaries have been expressed in real terms using the HM Treasury gross domestic product deflator index.  Sources: Department of Health Paybill Model 2008-09 Trust Financial Returns and Foundation Trust Annual Reports (Paybill data) Information Centre Workforce Census

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have enrolled on the midwifery return to practice course in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of midwives retiring from the NHS in the next 10 years; what recent discussions he has had with  (a) maternity service managers,  (b) professional representative bodies and  (c) others on that matter; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local authorities, strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, and to commission services accordingly taking into account the age profile of its work force.
	Ministers meet regularly with professional representative bodies and others and we discuss a range of work force issues.

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent midwives were working in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex in each of the last five years; and how many were working in each NHS organisation in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows numbers of qualified midwifery staff in national health service organisations in Essex.
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Southend Hospital NHS Trust 100 96 91 97 100 
			 Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust 111 108 113 114 116 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust 114 117 115 107 - 
			 Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust - - - - 110 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 78 80 84 90 84 
			 The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 77 84 80 83 87 
			  Notes: 1. Only those trusts that provide midwifery services are included in the table. 2. Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust gained foundation trust status on 1 May 2008; it was formerly known as Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS trust.  Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

NHS: Procurement

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of each piece of written advice he has received from the Co-operation and Competition Panel on the preferred provider policy for the NHS.

Mike O'Brien: We have engaged extensively with the Cooperation and Competition Panel (CCP) in the development of guidance setting out the implications of the preferred provider policy. However, the Department does not normally disclose advice on policy guidance that is yet to be approved by Ministers. We will consider publishing details of the CCP's advice following publication of any guidance.

Northwick Park Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) children up to 16 years old, and  (b) elderly and  (c) other patients were seen per hour in the accident and emergency department of Northwick Park Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: Data are not available in the format requested. Data are collected by trust and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Total number of attendances in 2008-09 accident and emergency (A and E) HES, broken down by 24 hour of arrival and age groups, in North West London NHS Trust 
			  Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Age group 
			  24 hour arrival  16 and under  17-64  65+  Not known 
			 Total 43,872 104,870 27,298 12 
			 00:00 1,080 2,854 523 - 
			 01:00 741 2,484 444 1 
			 02:00 572 1,894 335 1 
			 03:00 442 1,615 348 - 
			 04:00 382 1,415 331 - 
			 05:00 422 1,440 394 - 
			 06:00 397 1,512 437 - 
			 07:00 556 2,329 544 - 
			 08:00 1,080 4,344 946 - 
			 09:00 2,153 6,150 1,558 - 
			 10:00 2,606 7,276 2,093 - 
			 11:00 2,706 6,662 2,095 - 
			 12:00 2,632 6,346 2,048 - 
			 13:00 2,524 6,105 1,894 - 
			 14:00 2,382 5,939 1,994 1 
			 15:00 2,317 5,381 1,758 - 
			 16:00 2,421 5,191 1,544 1 
			 17:00 2,542 5,378 1,502 1 
			 18:00 2,945 5,607 1,389 - 
			 19:00 3,121 5,578 1,245 1 
			 20:00 3,003 5,530 1,234 - 
			 21:00 2,817 5,122 995 3 
			 22:00 2,290 4,725 914 3 
			 23:00 1,741 3,993 733 - 
			  Notes: 1. Total attendance An attendance is a record for every patient that attends an A and E department, including a major A and E department, single specialty A and E departments, walk-in centres and minor injuries units. Any one patient can have multiple attendances, which may be in the same or different time period, for the same or different condition. An attendance can be split into whether the attendance was either a new or a follow-up attendance, using the 'Attendance Category' data field. 2. A and E data quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by a number of NHS providers across England. The NHS Information centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seek to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. A and E HES data are available for the year 2007-08, which covers attendances reported between April 2007 and March 2008. The A and E HES data for 2007-08 are the first record level national A and E attendance data to be available within HES. The current coverage and quality of A and E data in HES is poor and for this reason the dataset has been labelled as 'experimental'. Allowing access to this data will also help stimulate discussion and encourage trusts to improve quality for subsequent releases. The 2007-08 A and E HES publication addresses some of the key data quality and coverage issues. This report is available on HESonline: www.hesonline.nhs.uk  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Respite Care: Staffordshire

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated by  (a) North Staffordshire,  (b) South Staffordshire and  (c) Stoke-on-Trent primary care trusts for carer's respite in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

Phil Hope: The information is not held centrally.
	The Department does not break down primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations by policies at either national or local level and there is no weighted capitation formula specific to carers that would allow needs to be accurately identified at the local level. It is therefore for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally, taking into account their local circumstances and priorities set out in the NHS Operating Framework.

Social Services: Complaints

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has taken steps to put in place a complaints system for  (a) self-funding users of residential social care,  (b) partly self-funding users of residential social care and  (c) residents of privately-run care homes.

Phil Hope: Section 35 and schedule 5 of the Health Act 2009 contain provisions for a new complaints scheme for adult social care self-funders, to be operated by the local government ombudsman. This scheme is due to be implemented on 1 October 2010.
	People whose care is provided or arranged by local authorities, including those who are residents in privately-run care homes, already have access to the existing statutory local authority adult social services complaints procedure.

Treatment Centres: Finance

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid to each wave 1 independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) under its contract; and how much would have been paid to each ISTC for its work if it had been paid at the national tariff.

Mike O'Brien: The total cost of payments made to Wave One Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) providers, up to 31 January 2010, is summarised by treatment centre in the following table:
	
		
			  Treatment centre name  Provider name  Total payment to date (£ million) 
			 Eccleshill NHS Treatment Centre Nations Healthcare 40.9 
			 Midlands NHS Treatment Centre Nations Healthcare 57.3 
			 Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre PHG 95 
			 Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre UKSH 101.3 
			 Greater Manchester Surgical Centre Netcare Healthcare 80.9 
			 Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre PHG 56.4 
			 Bodmin NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 24.4 
			 Boston NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 9 
			 Clifton Park NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 43.7 
			 The Cobalt NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 10.4 
			 Gainsborough NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 6.1 
			 New Hall NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 40.4 
			 Horton NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 50 
			 Blakelands NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 12.8 
			 Reading NHS Treatment Centre Ramsay 14.3 
			 Nottingham NHS Treatment Centre at QMC Nations Healthcare 54.1 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Treatment Centre Interhealth 80.2 
			 Kidderminster NHS Treatment Centre Interhealth 27.2 
			 Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre PHG 22.8 
			 North East London NHS Treatment Centre PHG 65.8 
			 Sussex Orthopaedic NHS Treatment Centre Care UK 75.3 
			 Havant NHS Diagnostic Centre Care UK 4.4 
			 Will Adams NHS Treatment Centre Care UK 23.5 
			 St. Mary's NHS Treatment Centre Care UK 55.8 
			 Mid and South Buckinghamshire NHS Diagnostic Centre Care UK 11 
			 Total - 1,062.6 
		
	
	The Department does not hold comparable information about what the total cost of payments to Wave One ISTC providers would have been under the tariff set for comparable NHS procedures.

Tuberculosis: Offenders

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that medical treatment of prisoners with tuberculosis continues on leaving custody.

Phil Hope: The Department acknowledges that prisoners leaving prison with a diagnosed medical condition such as tuberculosis require ongoing care from primary and specialist care services in the community.
	This is a challenge given the often complex social and personal circumstances of prison-leavers. Issues around homelessness are a particular concern as it can lead to loss of contact with locality based care services. Recognising the need for cross-organisation working, the Department has committed itself to improving care pathways for offenders in prison and in the community in the cross government Health and Criminal Justice Delivery Plan Improving Health, Supporting Justice (November 2009, Department of Health). A copy has already been placed in the Library.
	In the interim, through-care and after-care programmes in prisons endeavour to ensure that ongoing care requirements are met and planning for discharge occurs so that prison-leavers are referred to services in their home community. Our partners recognise this challenge too and are actively engaged in working through the issues with us.

Tuberculosis: Screening

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the NHS in diagnosing those with tuberculosis; and what steps he is taking to improve the methods used by the NHS to diagnose people with that disease.

Gillian Merron: The Department has made no specific assessment of the effectiveness of the national health service in diagnosing tuberculosis. The Care Quality Commission, as part of its Annual Health Check of NHS organisations, monitors the implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and assesses how the NHS implements delivery of services, including TB services. The organisation and running of local services are matters for local NHS management. Primary care trusts are responsible for procuring TB services to fit their local demography and incidence of TB in their area, and ensuring that those standards are monitored, met and reviewed as part of the commissioning process.
	The Department published a toolkit in June 2007 for the NHS recommending that the NICE clinical guidelines (published 2006) on the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis should be followed by all NHS service providers.
	The diagnosis of TB is made from a combination of context, symptoms, clinical signs and investigation. NICE recommends that clinical investigation for pulmonary TB (the only infectious form) comprise a chest X-ray, followed by multiple sputum samples for TB microscopy and culture. These represent the current 'gold standard' diagnostic tools, and NICE advises that if the clinical signs and symptoms are consistent with pulmonary TB then treatment should be started without waiting for further tests.
	NICE identified areas for future research, one of which concerned Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) tests, to assess whether interferon-gamma tests are acceptable to patients and more effective than tuberculin skin tests for predicting subsequent development of active TB, or diagnosing or ruling out current active TB. Research proposals have been set in motion for these, but results of these studies are likely to be some years away.

Vaccination: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of children eligible for vaccines resident in areas in which the Child Health Interim Application is in use in the last three years;
	(2)  whether he has made an estimate of the effect on the number of children receiving immunisations of errors in the Child Health Interim Application.

Gillian Merron: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) monitors and publishes quarterly COVER (Cover of Vaccine Evaluated Rapidly) uptake data, which include that from London Strategic Health Authority. These are published on the HPA website:
	www.hpa.org.uk/HPA/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/1204031507699/
	In order to ensure that children within primary care trusts (PCTs) using the Interim Child Health Interim Application (CHIA) received their immunisations at the right time, both regular and additional audit activities were carried out by PCTs, general practitioner practices, BT (the Local Service Provider for the London Cluster) and the Health Protection Agency. These activities have been used to validate the immunisation returns and to ensure that any children overdue an immunisation are invited to have one at the appropriate time. PCT chief executives and the Director of Public Health for London were fully engaged in and supportive of these activities.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made for the purposes of the allocation of regional funding by the Homes and Communities Agency of the likely number of HomeBuy Direct completions in each region in 2010-11.

John Healey: HomeBuy Direct is a demand-led product so regional funding is adjusted to match take-up by first-time buyers.

Agriculture: Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to Lord Taylor of Holbeach of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 290WA, on planning, what the timetable for the review of effectiveness of planning policy guidance on the protection of the best and most versatile farmland is.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	Planning policy on agricultural land requires local planning authorities to take account of the presence of best and most versatile agricultural land, alongside other sustainability considerations, when determining planning applications. As outlined in the soil strategy, Safeguarding our Soils(1), DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government are committed to reviewing the weight that should be given to protecting this land from development. It is planned that the findings from this review will be delivered in 2010.
	(1 )Soil Strategy, Safeguarding our Soils:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/land/soil/documents/soil-strategy.pdf

Council Housing: Immigrants

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the European Court of Justice ruling in Cases C-310/08 and C-480/08, London borough of Harrow  v. Nimco Hassan Ibrahim and Maria Teixeira  v. London borough of Lambeth, on the requirements of local authorities to provide council housing to migrant workers.

Ian Austin: We are considering the implications of judgment of the European Court of Justice for the allocation of social housing.
	However, because of the very specific circumstances of the two cases, we do not expect that the judgment will have a significant impact on the amount of council housing provided to migrant workers.

Demolition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1144W, on housing: regeneration, how much was spent on demolitions in each pathfinder area in each year since 2003-04.

Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 6 January 2010,  Official Report, column 364W.

Disabled Facilities Grants: Hyndburn

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he intends to announce the Disabled Facilities Grants allocation for Hyndburn borough council for the year 2010-11.

Ian Austin: An announcement on the Disabled Facilities Grant allocations for the year 2010-11, including Hyndburn borough council's allocation, will be made shortly.
	Details of the amount awarded to each local authority will be available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/supportandadaptations/housingadaptations/localauthoritydfgallocations/
	and will also be made available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Eco-Towns

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements apply to homes in eco-towns to be constructed at  (a) Level 5 and  (b) Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

John Healey: The Planning Policy Statement: eco-towns (PPS), that we published last July, sets out the standards that eco-towns must achieve. The primary focus is to set targets for innovation across the development as a whole, rather than an individual building approach, but it does include minimum performance levels for individual dwellings, including that they should meet at least level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
	On energy efficiency and carbon, the PPS will require dwellings in eco-towns to demonstrate high levels of energy efficiency in the fabric of the building, having regard to proposals for standards to be incorporated into changes to the Building Regulations between now and 2016, and to meet at least 70 per cent. carbon reduction on site relative to Part L 2006 of the building regulations. This level of onsite carbon reduction is more demanding than Code level 4, is consistent with the zero carbon homes standard announced last year and will take effect significantly earlier than the general zero carbon homes requirement. In addition, over a year, the net carbon dioxide emissions from all energy use within the buildings on the eco-town development as a whole must be zero or below. This too is consistent with (and, depending on policy decisions to be made on allowable solutions for zero-carbon homes, may be more demanding than) the definition of Zero Carbon Homes which the Government have adopted for introduction in 2016.
	The Eco-towns PPS includes a range of ambitious standards on other aspects of sustainability including high Code levels, for example in relation to water consumption, which taken together are the toughest standards ever required for new development. Copies of the PPS are available in the House Library.

Eco-Towns: Construction

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes he expects to be built in each proposed eco-town; and over what period.

John Healey: As we set out in Planning Policy Statement: eco-towns, each location must be able to make provision for at least 5,000 homes. We expect 10,000 homes to be built by 2016, of which at least 30 per cent. will be affordable, and up to 10 eco-towns under development by 2020.

Energy Performance Certificates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's publication, Warm homes, greener homes: a strategy for household energy management, whether a privacy impact assessment will be prepared in respect of plans to increase the number of public bodies with access to the Energy Performance Certificate Register.

John Healey: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has recently published 'Warm Homes, Greener Homes', the Government's strategy for Household Energy Management. This Department has recently published a consultation, 'Making better use of Energy Performance Certificates and Data'. This consultation sets out our proposals for increased access to the data collected through energy performance certificates and display energy certificates.
	A small-scale privacy impact statement has been completed by this Department in relation to the proposals contained in the consultation.

Gardens

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an estimate of the proportion of  (a) private rented,  (b) social rented and  (c) owner-occupied households with access to a garden in each year since 1997.

Ian Austin: Estimates of the proportion of households in each tenure with access to a garden for each year from 1997-98 to 2006-07 are provided in the following table. These estimates are based on data from the Survey of English Housing and include those with access to a yard/patio. The question was not asked in 2007-08.
	
		
			  Households with access to a garden( 1) , England 
			  Percentage of households in tenure 
			   Private renters  Social renters  Owner occupiers 
			 1997-98 77 71 96 
			 1998-99 78 74 96 
			 1999-2000 76 73 96 
			 2000-01 80 74 96 
			 2001-02 74 73 96 
			 2002-03 77 75 97 
			 2003-04 76 75 97 
			 2004-05 73 72 96 
			 2005-06 75 75 97 
			 2006-07 77 77 97 
			 (1) Includes those with a yard/patio, typically around 5 per cent. of owner occupiers and social renters and 15 per cent. of private renters.  Source: Survey of English Housing

Green Belt

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what change there has been to the extent of green belt land in  (a) England and  (b) Coventry since 1997.

Ian Austin: The extent of green belt land in England increased between 1997 and 2009 by around 34,000 hectares if one disregards the re-designation of 47,300 hectares as part of the New Forest National Park in 2005. Since development control in National Parks is very strict, that re-designation need not be seen as a loss of green belt countryside.
	The area of green belt in Coventry has been maintained at around 3,020 hectares between 1997 and 2009.

Homelessness

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of homeless people in  (a) Ribble Valley constituency,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England.

Ian Austin: Information on the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as owed a main homelessness duty is published in the first supplementary table of the Department's quarterly statistical release on statutory homelessness. This is available in both the Library of the House and via the CLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/homelessnessq42009
	The information is collected and published at local authority level. Lancashire comprises the following local housing authorities: Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre. The information is not collected at constituency level.
	Information is also collected and reported on the number of people who sleep rough-that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night. Local authority data and count guidance can be found on the CLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/roughsleeping2009

Homelessness: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated under the hostels improvement programme to  (a) Leeds City Council and  (b) voluntary sector organisations in Leeds in the last 12 months.

Ian Austin: Leeds city council has received £100,000 funding for hostel capital improvement under what is now called the Places of Change Programme for The Crypt Project run by St. George's Crypt. This is in addition to the £988,568 that was provided to the scheme in March 2008. In May 2009, £15,000 was allocated to the voluntary sector organisation Create CiC Ltd. in order to set up a social enterprise community interest company (called Found by Create) which works with homeless people in Leeds.
	The Places of Change Programme will provide £80 million to 90 projects in 62 local authority areas in England to make hostels and other homelessness facilities for homeless people more dynamic places with an emphasis on helping move to independent living and paid employment.

Homelessness: Young People

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of young people who have left their family home without having in place arrangements to live independently in the last 12 months.

Ian Austin: Information on young people who have left their family home without having in place arrangements to live independently is not held centrally. Information is collected on the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as owed a main homelessness duty by primary priority need category. In 2009 being a young person (aged 16 or 17) was the primary reason for priority need for 2,490 households accepted, 6 per cent. of all acceptances.

Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the ratio of median quintile house prices to lowest quintile earnings was in 2009.

Ian Austin: The information requested can be found on the Land Registry and ONS websites.

Housing: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 6 January 2010,  Official Report, column 371W, on housing: databases, if he will place in the Library a copy of the cross-reference table produced by Ordnance Survey; and which bodies produce unique address identifiers that are included in the cross-reference look-up table.

Ian Austin: The bodies which produce the unique address identifiers included in the cross-reference look-up table are Royal Mail, Ordnance Survey and the Valuation Office Agency. A copy of the cross-reference table is available free of charge from Ordnance Survey at:
	www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
	or by telephone on 08456 05 05 05.

Local Authorities: Expenditure

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much local authorities spent on  (a) children and families services and  (b) other adult care in (i) cash and (ii) real-terms in 2009 figures according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much local authorities spent on public conveniences in  (a) cash and  (b) real-terms in 2009 figures, according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how much local authorities spent on waste collection in  (a) cash and  (b) real-terms in 2009 figures, according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how much local authorities spent on street cleaning in  (a) cash and  (b) 2009 real-terms figures, in each year since 1997 according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department;
	(5)  how much local authorities spent on culture and heritage in  (a) cash and  (b) 2009 real-terms figures in each year since 1997 according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department.

Barbara Follett: The information requested, as reported by local authorities in England, is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  Net current expenditure: England-Cash 
			  £ million 
			 Asylum seekers( 1)  Strategy( 1) 
			   Children and families services  Other adult care  Children  Adult  Total  Children  Adult  Total 
			 1997-98 2,218.3 6,121.4 - - - - - 90.9 
			 1998-99 2,415.2 6,319.1 - - 192.7 - - 105.4 
			 1999-2000 2,762.2 6,839.8 - - 305.5 - - 110.0 
			 2000-01 2,835.0 7,196.1 - - 551.2 - - 121.0 
			 2001-02 3,118.7 7,683.3 - - 552.7 - - 102.0 
			 2002-03 3,469.8 8,797.8 - - 520.9 - - 142.2 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 3,991.7 10,256.2 - - 469.2 - - 84.0 
			 2004-05 4,487.9 11,351.8 - - 336.6 - - 75.1 
			 2005-06 4,757.2 12,186.8 - - 259.1 - - 71.5 
			 2006-07 5,039.9 12,706.0 176.1 54.9 231.0 26.7 50.8 77.5 
			 2007-08 5,219.0 12,988.9 141.2 45.1 186.3 86.6 51.4 138.0 
			 2008-09 5,531.8 13,637.1 147.8 45.5 193.3 127.4 63.8 191.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Real terms (at 2008-09 prices) 
			  £ million 
			 Asylum seekers( 1)  Strategy( 1) 
			   Children and families services  Other adult care  Children  Adult  Total  Children  Adult  Total 
			 1997-98 2,887.0 7,966.7 - - - - - 118.3 
			 1998-99 3,078.4 8,054.3 - - 245.7 - - 134.3 
			 1999-2000 3452.7 8,549.5 - - 381.9 - - 137.5 
			 2000-01 3,497.8 8,878.2 - - 680.0 - - 149.2 
			 2001-02 3,763.7 9,272.3 - - 667.1 - - 123.1 
			 2002-03 4,056.6 10,285.5 - - 609.0 - - 166.2 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 4,538.8 11,661.8 - - 533.5 - - 95.5 
			 2004-05 4,964.9 12,558.4 - - 372.4 - - 83.1 
			 2005-06 5,166.4 13,235.2 - - 281.4 - - 77.7 
			 2006-07 5,316.2 13,402.6 185.8 57.9 243.6 28.1 53.6 81.7 
			 2007-08 5,350.6 13,316.6 144.8 46.3 191.0 88.8 52.7 141.5 
			 2008-09 5,531.8 13,637.1 147.8 45.5 193.3 127.4 63.8 191.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Net current expenditure: England-Cash 
			  £ million 
			   Public conveniences( 2)  Waste collection  Street cleansing (not chargeable to  h ighways)  Culture and heritage( 3) 
			 1997-98 96.4 522.0 337.9 n/a 
			 1998-99 93.8 551.2 361.3 346.3 
			 1999-2000 91.8 581.7 390.4 318.7 
			 2000-01 84.0 637.0 412.8 378.5 
			  
			 2001-02 83.1 676.1 434.4 405.4 
			 2002-03 83.7 752.1 476.6 427.8 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 83.5 865.1 538.3 437.1 
			 2004-05 83.3 965.1 594.6 441.7 
			 2005-06 86.0 1,040.7 627.0 490.6 
			 2006-07 86.6 1,116.0 661.3 535.7 
			 2007-08 87.4 1,186.9 696.8 557.0 
			 2008-09 88.6 1,237.2 741.1 593.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Real terms (at 2008-09 prices) 
			  £ million 
			   Public conveniences( 2)  Waste collection  Street cleansing (not chargeable to  h ighways)  Culture and heritage( 3) 
			 1997-98 125.4 679.4 439.7 n/a 
			 1998-99 119.5 702.6 460.5 441.4 
			 1999-2000 114.7 727.1 488.0 398.4 
			 2000-01 103.6 785.9 509.3 467.0 
			  
			 2001-02 100.3 815.9 524.2 489.3 
			 2002-03 97.9 879.3 557.2 500.2 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 95.0 983.7 612.1 497.0 
			 2004-05 92.2 1,067.7 657.8 488.6 
			 2005-06 93.4 1,130.2 681.0 532.8 
			 2006-07 91.3 1,177.2 697.5 565.0 
			 2007-08 89.6 1,216.8 714.4 571.1 
			 2008-09 88.6 1,237.2 741.1 593.6 
			 (1) A breakdown of children and adult figures prior to 2006-07 is not available. (2) Figures prior to 2001-02 include contributions to rural sewage schemes and cesspool emptying. (3) 1997-98 figure is not available. (4) Figures from 2003-04 onwards are collected on a Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 17 basis  Source: Communities and Local Government revenue outturn (RO) returns. 
		
	
	The current expenditure defined here is the cost of running local authority services within the financial year. This includes the costs of staffing, heating, lighting and cleaning, together with expenditure on goods and services consumed within the year. This expenditure is offset by income from sales, fees and charges and other (non-grant) income, to give net current expenditure.
	Figures from 2003-04 onwards are collected on a Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 17 basis.
	The real-terms figures are calculated using the latest H M Treasury GDP deflator.

Local Government: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the letter to leaders of principal local authorities in Norfolk of 9 March 2010 from the Minister for Local Government, who will act as a champion in Whitehall for the Norfolk councils; and for what reasons other areas have not been given such a champion.

Rosie Winterton: I look forward to a positive response from the local authorities in Norfolk to my letter of 9 March 2010. Should they seek a Whitehall champion, the details will be agreed following discussion with those councils.
	Other areas in England have been offered similar champions during the local area agreement negotiations and the recent Total Place pilots.

Local Government: Fraud

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an estimate of the monetary value of the potential frauds identified by the Audit Commission in its National Fraud Initiative since the inception of that initiative.

Barbara Follett: The Audit Commission requires all participants in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) to report the levels of fraudulent and erroneous payments prevented and detected as a result of following up the data matches provided to them. The totals of fraudulent and erroneous payments are given in the national reports published at the end of each exercise. From its launch in 1996 to the end of the 2006/07 exercise, the cumulative reported outcomes from the NFI totalled some £450 million.
	The report on the most recent completed exercise, NFI 2008-09, is scheduled for publication in May 2010, and the Audit Commission is confident that this figure will have increased significantly.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much funding his Department allocated under the Mortgage Rescue scheme in each region for the spending period 2008-11;
	(2)  how much funding his Department allocated under the Mortgage Rescue scheme in each region in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and how much such funding has been allocated for (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12;
	(3)  how much funding the Homes and Communities Agency allocated for the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in the spending period 2008-11;
	(4)  what estimate he has made for the purposes of the allocation of regional funding by the Homes and Communities Agency of the number of households likely to accept offers on their homes under the Mortgage Rescue scheme in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) the spending period 2008-11;
	(5)  what proportion of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme budget has been  (a) allocated and  (b) spent to date.

John Healey: The Mortgage Rescue Scheme is demand-led and targeted at the most vulnerable households. The scheme's financial framework allows for flexibility to direct the available resources to those areas with the greatest demand. This is kept under review based on scheme data published each quarter. The Homes and Communities Agency will report spend through the scheme in the normal way in their annual report for 2009-10.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost to a household of accepting an offer under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been since the scheme's inception; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency will report spend through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in the normal way in their annual report for 2009-10.

Non-Domestic Rates: Appeals

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2009,  Official Report, column 399W, on non-domestic rates, what estimate his Department has made of the  (a) number of appeals against rateable values,  (b) number of such appeals which resulted in a reduction in rateable value and  (c) resulting change in total rateable value in each region in each year from 2009-10 to 2014-15.

Barbara Follett: No assumptions were made about the number of appeals or the number which resulted in a reduction in rateable value (RV). However, for the purpose of modelling the 2010 transitional relief scheme, this Department has made an assumption about the total reduction in RV as a result of appeals.
	The assumptions used for this modelling are detailed in the consultation document entitled 'The transitional arrangements for the non-domestic rating revaluation 2010 in England'. The methodology and assumptions can be found on page 49 of the consultation. A copy of the consultation document is available at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nndrrevaluation2010

Parish Councils: Cost Effectiveness

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the recent changes to criteria for value for money audits of town and parish councils; and whether such changes were introduced on the initiative of  (a) his Department and  (b) the Audit Commission.

Rosie Winterton: We have made no assessment of these changes, which have been introduced by the Audit Commission, and which will apply only to those town and parish councils with an annual spend exceeding £1 million.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the amount collected in parking fines in ( a) Montgomeryshire and  (b) England in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The requested information for Montgomeryshire is a matter for Welsh Assembly Government.
	For England information, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 240W.

Social Rented Housing: Rents

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1160W, on social rented housing: rents, whether an impact assessment has been prepared for his Department's policy on the convergence of social rents.

John Healey: Government policy on rent restructuring, established in 2001, was subject to wide-ranging consultation over the summer of 2001. A further public consultation on the treatment of service charges under rent restructuring followed in 2002.
	A three-year review of the policy was undertaken in 2004. This was subject to formal consultation including a specific race equality impact assessment. At that time there was no requirement for any other formal impact assessment.

Special Protection Areas: Pets

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 831W, on special protection areas: cats, whether  (a) his Department,  (b) the Planning Inspectorate and  (c) the Homes and Communities Agency has provided guidance to local authorities on the imposition of planning conditions in respect of areas with special protection area status to prohibit the keeping of cats and dogs in new housing developments; and if he will direct local authorities to cease the practice of prohibiting the keeping of domestic pets through the imposition of planning conditions.

Ian Austin: No. Neither the present model conditions in DoE Circular 11/95 The Use of Conditions in Planning Permissions, nor those recommended by the Planning Inspectorate, include any conditions on the keeping of animals.

Temporary Accommodation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of pregnant women living in temporary accommodation in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many babies were born into households in temporary accommodation in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many  (a) children and  (b) babies under 12 months old were living in temporary accommodation in each year since 1997.

Ian Austin: Information on the number of households in temporary accommodation with dependent children and/or a pregnant woman with no other dependents is available from the end of March 2002 and information on the total number of children (or expected children) in temporary accommodation is available from the end of December 2007; this information is published in Table 6 of the Department's quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library and via the CLG website.
	Information on the number of babies born in households in temporary accommodation and information on the ages of children living in temporary accommodation is not held centrally.

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2010,  Official Report, column 671W, on tenancy deposit schemes, whether redacted copies of the contracts between tenancy deposit scheme providers and his Department have been released under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Ian Austin: Yes, redacted copies of the contracts have been made available in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  when he plans to answer question 316095, on children in temporary accommodation, tabled on 2 February 2010;
	(2)  when he plans to answer question 316094, on households in temporary accommodation, tabled on 2 February 2010;
	(3)  when he plans to answer question 316032, on pregnant women in temporary accommodation, tabled on 2 February 2010.

Ian Austin: I have replied to the hon. Member's questions.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were  (a) started and  (b) completed by residents of each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency in each quarter of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: Tables 1 to 4 showing the number of apprenticeship starts and framework achievements by local authority and parliamentary constituency for 2005/06 to 2008/09 will be placed in the Library.
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts and achievements in each academic year is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09

Business: Government Assistance

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials at each grade have been employed on work relating to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme since its creation; how much has been allocated by his Department for staff costs for the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee has been developed by the Department's Enterprise Directorate SME Finance Team, which has policy responsibility for start-up and growth for small and medium sized enterprises. The team's resources are deployed on a project basis whereby resources follow priority work. Within this team it is estimated three full-time equivalents across the grades (senior civil service to higher executive officer), at a total employment cost of £199,000 per annum, are employed on work relating to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.

Further Education: Procurement

John Pugh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the £75 million potential savings identified by the National Audit Office in its report on Improving procurement in further education colleges in England, HC 1632, Session 2005-06, have been realised.

Kevin Brennan: As part of Spending Review 2004, a £75 million efficiency target was set for the further education sector to be realised through improved procurement practices within colleges. A procurement efficiency programme was established at the Learning and Skills Council, and since its inception, has successfully raised the status of procurement in the sector.
	The NAO report 'Improving procurement in further education colleges in England' was published in October 2006, and confirmed the potential within the sector to realise significant procurement efficiencies.
	The programme has successfully facilitated and supported a culture which encourages colleges to make good procurement decisions. This has included introduction of procurement solutions where none had previously existed, the removal and/or mitigation of barriers to good procurement behaviour and the establishment of supporting systems and structures.
	In the spending period 2005-06 to 2007-08, the programme realised savings of £72.7 million.

Future Large Aircraft

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the agreement finalised on 5 March 2010 between the Government and other European customer nations and EADS/Airbus Military in relation to the A400M military air transporter programme on the  (a) number of jobs in,  (b) level of skills in and  (c) supply chain of the British aerospace sector; whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects of that agreement on other aspects of that sector; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: The Department's assessment is that A400M has directly created or secured work for 8,000 people in UK, principally through Airbus, GKN, Messier Dowty and Rolls-Royce; many of which are high-skilled jobs. There is also a primary supply chain to Airbus of around 30 UK based companies. There are 900 people employed directly on A400M at Filton.
	On 5 March 2010, agreement in principle on the future of the A400M programme was reached by all parties. We believe that this agreement is positive for employment and skills within the UK.

Higher Education: Admissions

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) places there were available at and  (b) applications there were to each higher education establishment in London in each academic year from 2005-06 to 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the number of (i) places available at and (ii) applications to each of those establishments in 2010-11.

David Lammy: A table detailing the number of accepted applicants and applications to full-time undergraduate courses at each higher education institution (HEI) in Greater London via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in each academic year from 2005/06 to 2009/10 will be placed in the libraries of the House.
	The number of places available at each institution is not available centrally, so the number of applicants who were successful in gaining a place has been given. 'Applications' in the tables refers to each application that has been made to a course at one of these institutions; applicants could make up to six applications on their UCAS form up to 2007, and up to five from 2008.
	The Department does not hold an estimate of the number of places available at each establishment for academic year 2010/11, or the final number of applications or accepted applicants for institutions. The following table, which was published by UCAS, contains the number of applications which had been made by 22 January 2010 for 2010/11 year of entry.
	
		
			  Applications via UCAS to full-time undergraduate courses at higher education institutions in London for 2010/11 year of entry (as at 22January 2010) 
			  Institution  Applications 
			 Brunel University 18,118 
			 Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London 5,239 
			 City University 20,170 
			 Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) 321 
			 Goldsmiths (University of London) 10,740 
			 Heythrop College (University of London) 524 
			 Imperial College London 14,402 
			 King's College London (University of London) 33,925 
			 Kingston University 36,133 
			 London Metropolitan University 19,296 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) 18,368 
			 London South Bank University 16,027 
			 Middlesex University 22,452 
			 Queen Mary, University of London 23,329 
			 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 2,881 
			 Roehampton University 8,239 
			 Rose Bruford College 3,057 
			 Royal Veterinary College (University of London) 1,809 
			 School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) 4,059 
			 St George's, University of London (formerly St George's Hospital Medical School) 5,402 
			 St Mary's University College, Twickenham 6,082 
			 Thames Valley University 9,139 
			 The School of Pharmacy (University of London) 1,260 
			 University College London (University of London) 33,185 
			 University of East London 15,149 
			 University of Greenwich 23,953 
			 University of London Institute in Paris 98 
			 University of the Arts London 26,478 
			 University of Westminster 19,748 
			 Grand Total 399,583 
			  Source: UCAS Applications Digest

Illegal Immigrants

Robert Syms: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 3 February 2010,  Official Report, column 411W, on illegal immigrants, how many staff his Department, its predecessors and its agencies have appointed who were later discovered to be illegal immigrants since 2005.

Pat McFadden: The Department has no record of having employed an illegal immigrant in the last five years.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 4 March 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 1 March 2010, UIN 320501 to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House has not appointed any staff who have later been discovered to be illegal immigrants since 2005.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 4 March 2010:
	The Minister of State, for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of staff appointed in The Insolvency Service since 2005 who were later to be found illegal immigrants.
	The Insolvency Service has not appointed any staff since 2005 who were later found to be illegal immigrants.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 3 March 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 01 March 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office has not employed anyone who has later been discovered to be an illegal immigrant.
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 23 March 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO formerly National Weights and Measures Laboratory) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 1st March 2010 [reference 2009/1528] to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 3 February 2010, Official Report, column 411Wt on illegal immigrants, how many staff his Department, its predecessor Department and its agencies have appointed who were later discovered to be illegal immigrants since 2005.
	NMO has not had any illegal immigrants working for the Agency in the last five years.

Office of Fair Trading: Telephone Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will request the Office of Fair Trading to use freephone numbers for their public call lines.

Kevin Brennan: This is an operational matter for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) which is an independent non-departmental public body (NDPB).

Post Offices: Closures

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices have been closed in  (a) Montgomeryshire and  (b) England in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Pat McFadden: I have asked the managing director of Post Office Ltd to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: National Lottery

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what procurement process the Post Office followed in selecting Camelot as its partner and agent for the provision of bill payment services; and if he will make a statement.

Pat McFadden: holding answer 18 March 2010
	Post Office Ltd has no partnership or agency arrangements with Camelot for the provision of bill payment services.

Sector Skills Development Agency: Public Relations

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments the Sector Skills Development Agency has made to public affairs companies to date.

Kevin Brennan: The Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) commenced operations on 1 April 2002 and closed for business on 31 March 2008. During that period the SSDA spent the following on publicity and marketing. This information cannot be broken down further to account for what was paid to public affairs companies.
	
		
			  Publicity and marketing budget 
			   £000 
			 2002-03 1,769 
			 2003-04 2,647 
			 2004-05 5,469 
			 2005-06 2,724 
			 2006-07 2,578 
			 2007-08 1,502

Students: Disabled

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department and its predecessors have provided to further education colleges to help students with learning disabilities in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills allocates funding to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the provision of further education (FE) and training for adult learners aged 19 and over. For 2008-09 financial year the total LSC adult participation budget was £3.17 billion.
	Investing in FE and skills training for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD) remains a priority and we remain committed to maintaining the opportunities for these learners. This means making sure the right level of support is available so that FE colleges and training organisations are able to meet the needs of these learners to access mainstream provision or employment.
	There is no separate budget for the delivery of provision for adult learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD). They are supported through a range of provision depending on the level of skills and support they need.
	Additional Learning Support (ALS) funding is provided to FE colleges and training organisations to support the additional costs associated with learners with LDD to undertake mainstream provision. It is not possible to disaggregate this information between those who have a learning difficulty or a disability. Investment in ALS for post-19 learners in each of the last three academic years for which information is available (2006/07 to 2008/09) is approximately £160 million. This includes ALS claims recorded on the Individual Learner Record. However, the recording of claims below £5,500 is not a mandatory requirement and some smaller ALS funding will therefore not be included within the figure referred to above.

Students: Fees and Charges

Denis MacShane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to grant high-ranking universities more flexibility in relation to the setting of the level of university fees.

David Lammy: The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, which is being led by Lord Browne of Madingley, is currently looking at the balance of contributions to the cost of higher education between students, graduates, taxpayers and employers. The review has recently launched a call for proposals asking for suggestions for the future higher education funding system, and is expected to report by this autumn. It would be inappropriate for me to pre-empt its recommendations.

Teesside Cast Products

Dari Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what requests for assistance his Department has received from Corus in relation to Teesside Cast Products.

Pat McFadden: The Government have created a fiscal stimulus in areas of public spending that will directly increase demand for steel and feed through the supply chain. Along with its partners in local government and the regions, the Government have brought forward billions of pounds worth of infrastructure spending across the UK.
	We also committed £400 million to the car scrappage scheme to underpin the vitally important automotive sector, another very large user of steel. However these measures were aimed at boosting domestic markets more generally and therefore were not specifically targeted at assisting Teesside Cast Products, whose output of slab was sold almost entirely for export.
	Corus requested the following assistance from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in relation to Teesside Cast Products:
	Subsidies for short time working-this request was initially made, through the CBI, on 27 November 2008 and was in relation to all Corus UK sites and not just Teesside Cast Products. The Government declined this request on the grounds that we have extensively examined the economic case for UK wage subsidies and concluded that this is not a feasible, cost effective or sustainable option, nor would it guarantee that plants, like Teesside Cast Products would stay open in the long term.
	Export subsidies-Coras raised the issue for potential export subsidies in July 2009 to help bridge the gap between cost of producing slab at Teesside Cast Products and the price that could be achieved for the product on the world market. The Government refused this request as export subsidies would be illegal under the EU state aid rules.

Unemployment: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of people in Leeds North West constituency aged  (a) between 16 and 18 and  (b) between 19 and 24 years have not been in education, employment or training in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Estimates are available at local education authority (LEA) level for 16 to 24-year-olds(1) not in education, employment or training (NEET), using the Annual Population Survey (APS). These are given from 2000 to 2008 in table 1. Due to small sample sizes we are unable to produce reliable estimates for geographies smaller than LEA, or for small age groups from the APS. Due to incomplete data, estimates are not available prior to 2000.
	Please note that the estimates in table 1 are subject to large sampling variability and should therefore be treated with caution and viewed in conjunction with their confidence intervals(2) (CIs), which indicate how accurate an estimate is. For example, a CI of +/-3.0 percentage points (pp) means that the true value is between 3.0 pp above the estimate and 3.0 pp below the estimate.
	We are able to provide estimates for 16 to 18-year-olds NEET from records maintained by Connexions services. Table 2 shows the number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in Leeds local authority from 2006 to 2008. These data are not directly comparable with the figures given in table 1 or the annual estimate of the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET in England published annually by DCSF. Connexions data are not available at this level of detail for years before 2006.
	Reliable estimates cannot be provided at parliamentary constituency level for any age grouping from either this data or other sources. No data are available at local authority level for 19 to 24-year-olds.
	(1) Age used is the respondents academic age, which is defined as their age at the preceding 31 August.
	(2) Those given are 95 per cent. confidence intervals.
	
		
			  Table 1: People aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training in Leeds LEA 
			   NEET  
			   Number  Percentage  Confidence intervals 
			 2000 6,000 7.4 +/-3.0 
			 2001 9,000 9.9 +/-3.3 
			 2002 7,000 8.0 +/-3.0 
			 2003 10,000 10.3 +/-3.3 
			 2004 11,000 10.2 +/-3.3 
			 2005 19,000 15.2 +/-3.8 
			 2006 11,000 9.7 +/-3.3 
			 2007 16,000 13.1 +/-3.6 
			 2008 20,000 15.5 +/-3.7 
			  Note: Data for 2000 to 2003 are from the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey, the predecessor to the Annual Population Survey, and covers the period from March of the given year to the following February.  Source: Annual Population Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: People aged 16 to 18 not in education, employment or training in Leeds LA 
			   NEET 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 2006 2,170 9.1 
			 2007 2,380 10.0 
			 2008 2,320 9.5 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are an average of the figures provided to Connexions at the end of November, December and January. They include all young people known to Connexions who were aged 16, 17 or 18 on these dates. 2. The number of 16 to 18-year-olds known to Connexions includes those whose education establishment is located in the local authority area, regardless of where the young person resides. 3. 16 to 18-year-olds known to be undertaking a gap year, or in custody, are not recorded by Connexions as NEET. 4. The number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET have been adjusted to assume a proportion of those whose current activity is not known are NEET. 5. The figures above cannot be compared with DCSF's headline measure of proportion of young people NEET. The headline measure uses a range of data from different sources to estimate the proportion of the population that is NEET, and relate to the young person's academic age.

Union Modernisation Fund

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which Minister approved the decision to classify the audit reports of the Union Modernisation Fund as commercially confidential.

Pat McFadden: The audit reports are prepared using the standard terms of engagement for independent accountants involved in the verification of public sector grant claims. These terms were agreed between the Government and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
	My hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe), the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations, announced the Government's response to the public consultation on how the Union Modernisation Fund should operate and the intention to use the standard terms of engagement agreed with the ICAEW for the administration of the Union Modernisation Fund.

Unite

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of the Unite trade union in the last 12 months.

Pat McFadden: In the last 12 months my noble Friend the Secretary of State has met Unite representatives on four occasions, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Postal Affairs and Employment Relations has met them four times, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination twice, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs four times, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Regulatory Reform four times, my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Ian Pearson), the then Economic and Business Minister three times and I have met them four times.
	Details of the meetings in the last quarter of 2009 can be found on the Department's website at the following link and this will be updated successively after each quarter:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/foi/foi-ministerial-meetings-oct-dec-2009.pdf